Helene Ann Davids West, 95, of Walworth, died after a brief illness on Aug. 6, 2026.
Helene was born on Dec. 3, 1930, in Bagley, Minnesota, to Robert and Anna (Hoper) Davids. Her parents farmed Summit Farm in Bagley and then moved to Hallock, Minnesota, during the depression years. Helene loved music and said she wanted to learn to read so she could sing hymns at a very early age. The pastor’s wife taught her how to play a scale on the piano. She came home and was playing scales on the kitchen table. Her family decided she needed to have a piano. Her uncle Richard brought an upright grand to her and she played piano and taught piano lessons for many years. From Hallock the family moved to Williams, Minnesota, where she accompanied the school choirs, getting out of math class.
The family moved to Minneapolis when Helene was starting high school. There she met the love of her life, Donald West. Their families attended Redeemer Lutheran Church. They all sang in the church choir. He played violin and she played piano. Don would come with his violin and they would play duets, which Helene’s mother loved. After high school they attended the University of Minnesota. Helene and Don were married on Sept. 16, 1950. During their college years they welcomed sons Philip and Stephen. Don decided to enter the seminary, son Nathan was born during the seminary years. Helene always dreamed of marrying a pastor.
Their first call took them to a three point parish on the prairie in North Dakota. There Mari, Martin and Rachel were born. Their ministry took them to churches in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Medford, Rock, Michigan, Madison, and Lake Geneva. While in Michigan, Helene earned her Bachelor’s Degree graduating with honors at Northern Michigan University. While in Lake Geneva she earned her Master’s Degree at UW Whitewater in Special Education. Helene taught school over the years. She taught piano lessons and at one time had 99 students each week. She and Don sang in many community choirs together every place they lived. They retired to Lake Superior in Ashland where they spent 30 years.
Helene loved music, gardening, creating clothing for her children, playing cards, her dogs and all of nature. They bought a cabin on Walkerbrook Lake that her uncle Thomas built in Bagley in 1963 and enjoyed spending time there until 2025. Together they traveled the world, visiting Greece, Norway, France, Germany and Israel. They became snowbirds, leaving the snow and ice of Ashland for the winter to the Florida panhandle where they still have many of their closest friends.
In November 2023, they sold their home in Ashland and moved to live with Rachel in Walworth. She made her home their home and all of her friends became part of Helene and Don’s circle. Helene came home and was cared for by her family with the help of hospice in her final days. She said she was so excited to see her mother, her son Nathan and all those loved ones who would be waiting for her. Helene and Don celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. Their cup of blessings overflows.
Helene had the gift of time in her last week of life to say her goodbyes both in person, thru Facetime and thru her facebook connection. She exuded love and joy until her last breath!
Helene has been preceded in death by her parents, son Nathan, brothers Robert and Charles, and sister Reita Erickson. She is survived by husband Donald; children Philip (Jeongmi), Stephen (Lorna), Mari (Bruce), Martin (Paulette) and Rachel (Rich); grandchildren, Marie (René), Rebekah (Aaron), Daniel (Holly), Ben (Rebecca), Anna (Tim), Jesse (Rie), Julia, Isaac, Abram (Aili), Caleb, Chloé (Joe) and Alec (McKenzie); great grandchildren, Joshua, Isaac, José, Jonathan, Elsa, Charlotte, Lydia, Ezra, Eva, Elijah, Adelyn, Aedin, Rowan, Enni and Simon; and her precious dog Trixie.
A Funeral service will be held at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 420 Read Street in Walworth, on Aug. 15, 2026, and a Memorial service at Saron Lutheran, 517 9th Avenue West in Ashland, on Aug. 29, 2026. The schedule for both services will be a visitation from 9 until 11 a.m. followed by the service and a luncheon. The burial will take place after the luncheon in Ashland at Mount Hope Cemetery, where Helene will join son Nathan.
Arrangements are being made by Toynton Walworth Funeral Home. For online condolences, please visit www.nelsonfuneralhomes.com.
Helene and Don gave generously over the years to over 50 charities, their favorite being ELCA Good Gifts. A gift that keeps on giving!