Helen Koppien

Helen was born Jan. 12, 1911 at Inwood, Iowa the daughter of Soren and Margaretha (Beckman) Pedersen. She grew up on the family farm. When she was 18 year old, Helen moved to Sioux Falls to live with her sister. She attended Nettleton College. She worked at Alexs Cafe in Sioux Falls for 15 years. Helen then went to work at John Morrell and after a short time, took a position in the Office Cafe located at Morrells. On March 31, 1944, Helen married Aaron Koppien and became a stepmother to Robert and Marcella. The family lived in Sioux Falls. Helen operated a cafe in Inwood, Iowa for a year while she weighed the opportunity to purchase the cafe at the end of her first year. At the end of her year of operating the cafe, John Morrell came to Helen and offered her a supervisor position at the Office Cafe. She returned to John Morrell and worked there until she retired in 1975. During her retirement years, Helen volunteered at the Crippled Childrens Hospital and Home and ushered for the South Dakota Symphony. She was a huge baseball fan always watched the Minnesota Twins games. Helen was active on a bowling team for several years and enjoyed growing roses in her yard. Helen loved listening to Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold and Randy Travis. Helen is survived by a sister-in-law, Luella Pedersen of Sioux Falls; nieces, nephews and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings and her husband, Aaron, who died in 1962.