One week before the stock market crash of 1929, Mary Helen was born to Anton and Theresia Neigel, attended by a midwife, on a farm near Eagle Butte, SD. Her earliest memories were of austere, powdery fields, drought, and gathering corncobs and cowpies for the stove. Her parents kept trying for boys to work the fields but, after the first five girls, were forced to move to town.

Their ever-expanding family meant a long list of chores. In grade school through high school, Mary Helen always worked other jobs as well: cleaning homes, babysitting, cleaning the church once a week, or selling newspapers. When she turned 15, she began working summers in Rapid City as a nanny, and realized there was a bigger world to be explored.

After high school, Mary Helen borrowed $425 to attend the National College of Business in Rapid City, leading to a job as bookkeeper, buyer, and clerk at the local Ben Franklin store.
At a dance, she met Charles E. Donnelly, Jr. So enchanted was he that he invited her to get a bite to eat down the street, forgetting that he had only a nickel in his pocket. They married anyway and moved to Pierre SD in 1950 where they welcomed their first of five sons into the world.

Charles' burning passion was journalism. He bought a weekly newspaper in Edgemont, SD, committing them to a grueling grind of deadlines and all-nighters. Then their 5-year-old son was struck by a car. His long struggle for life left permanent disabilities, necessitating a move to Golden, Colorado, where his needs could be better looked after. Mary Helen somehow survived a special needs son and four more hellions underfoot while proofreading and keeping books for their latest newspaper venture, the Golden Transcript.

Charles and Mary Helen purchased Rapid City's weekly newspaper, the Gate City Guide in 1968, and re-envisioned it at the Guide, an in-depth newsmagazine. The Black Hills Workshop (now BH Works) had opened its doors and has been a life-changer for their challenged son, Dennis, ever since.

When Charles was elected to the state senate, Mary Helen shouldered the full burden of raising the children as well as heavy responsibilities for keeping the newspaper's affairs in order. Health issues necessitated the sale of the newspaper, only to be replaced by acquiring another bottomless pit of work, the Horsethief Campground & Resort. Sadly, their marriage ran aground among the granite spires.

Mary Helen resolved to make a new life for herself and served as personal assistant in a psychiatrist's office. Then she did the accounting for the Alex Johnson Hotel, and set up their large gift shop. Mustering the courage to go into business for herself, she bought two gift shops of her own. After years of fighting off suitors, she married Joseph J. Riss Sr. of Rapid City in 1987.

Mary Helen did finally take time for some personal pursuits: traveling, bridge, golf, and singing in Sweet Adelines. She once remarked, after snuggling up in a comfy chair with a book, "I never realized it was even possible to do something like this." When Joe passed in 1998, she moved to the Dahl Tower and enjoyed the close-knit community there until her health necessitated her final move to live with the attentive and loving folks at Good Samaritan, New Underwood. There, cheerful and content at the age of 93, she passed peacefully in her sleep.
The life of Mary Helen can be summed in one word: service. Not until the very end was she free of the responsibilities of looking after the needs of others, especially her special needs son. Not once did she ever shirk these opportunities to serve. It was never about her.

She is survived by sons Michael Donnelly of Poulsbo WA, Brian Donnelly and Dennis Donnelly of Rapid City, and Douglas Donnelly of Sioux Falls. Her youngest, Steven, passed last year. Granddaughter Stephanie resides in Kentucky. Surviving siblings are Bud Neigel, Alma Hill, Clarie Melvin, Gloria Allen, and Sharon Neigel.
She was preceded in death by 6 sisters, Julie Hinkley, Phyllis Schneider, Alice Myers, Rosie Galbraith, Shirley McDermaid and Collette Monat.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Blessed Sacrament Church.
Christian Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Blessed Sacrament Church. A luncheon and fellowship will immediately follow the Mass. Summer casual attire encouraged.
Interment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.