IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Helen O'Neill
Petersen
February 3, 1920 – August 31, 2017
Obituary
Helen O. Petersen, 97, Rapid City, passed peacefully on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at the West Hills Village Health Care Center with her family at her side.
Helen O'Neill was born February 3, 1920, in Dallas, South Dakota. She was the fourth of five children born to John and Margaret (Bauer) O'Neill.
Helen graduated valedictorian from Gregory High School in 1938. She attended the University of South Dakota and business school in Minneapolis. After a brief secretarial job in Minneapolis, Helen was hired for a secretarial position a the war department in Washington, D. C., where she was among the first employees to occupy the Pentagon, which was still under construction.
Helen O'Neill was born February 3, 1920, in Dallas, South Dakota. She was the fourth of five children born to John and Margaret (Bauer) O'Neill.
Helen graduated valedictorian from Gregory High School in 1938. She attended the University of South Dakota and business school in Minneapolis. After a brief secretarial job in Minneapolis, Helen was hired for a secretarial position a the war department in Washington, D. C., where she was among the first employees to occupy the Pentagon, which was still under construction.
Helen married Harry S. Petersen on June 2, 1945. They were happily married until Harry's death in June, 2009.
Helen is survived by her four children, Jill (Mike) Hinde, Joan, Harry, Jr. and John (Gayle); three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and her younger sister, Charlotte O'Neill.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Harry and her brothers, Jack, Robert and Walter.
Visitation will be from 1 until 3 pm on Monday, Sept. 4, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.
Private family services and burial at Black Hills National Cemetery will be at a later date.
Memorials have been established for Emmanuel Episcopal Church and/or a scholarship memorial fund for the Gregory High School.
Helen is survived by her four children, Jill (Mike) Hinde, Joan, Harry, Jr. and John (Gayle); three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and her younger sister, Charlotte O'Neill.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Harry and her brothers, Jack, Robert and Walter.
Visitation will be from 1 until 3 pm on Monday, Sept. 4, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.
Private family services and burial at Black Hills National Cemetery will be at a later date.
Memorials have been established for Emmanuel Episcopal Church and/or a scholarship memorial fund for the Gregory High School.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen O'Neill Petersen, please visit our flower store.
Helen O'Neill Petersen's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors