HELEN EVELYN (GUNDERSON) SANDA

Helen Evelyn (Gunderson) Sanda, 92, of Cloquet, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, surrounded by members of her loving family.

Helen was born in Proctor, Minn., on Nov. 12, 1920, to Peter and Marie (Strate) Gunderson and grew up in Midway Park.

She graduated from Proctor High School in 1939.

She married Toivo Sanda in June 1943, and together they raised eight children in Cloquet. She and Toivo were married for 37 years until his death in 1980.

Helen was a dedicated volunteer with the Greysolon Plaza Social Club, The Salvation Army, The Duluth Playhouse, The Senior Federation, and many other organizations. She also enjoyed traveling within the United States and had visited all 50 States in her lifetime. She also traveled overseas to both Norway and China. But, most important to Helen, was her family. She was a loving mom/grandma/great-grandma who enjoyed spending time with her family. She worked hard throughout her life, but she maintained her kind personality and loving relationships.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Toivo; son, David; brothers, Roy, Harold, Orville and John Gunderson; and sister, Marie Loushine.

Helen in survived by her daughters, Julianne Dennison of Chicago, Ill., Rose (Wayne) Herstad of Aguanga, Calif., Nancy (Garth) Johnson of Morrison, Colo., Mary (Rob) Tschida and Sheila (Keith) Depre both of Cloquet, Minn.; sons, Steve (Judy) of Cloquet, Minn., and Peter of Centralia, Wash.; daughter-in-law, Judy Ann Sanda of Cloquet, Minn.; 20 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Norine Gunderson of Duluth; brother-in-law, Albin Loushine of Proctor, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the residents and staff at the Greysolon Plaza for their concern and friendship towards Helen throughout the years, and they would also like to thank the staff at the Sunnyside Health Care Center for caring for Helen during her final days.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013 in the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Duluth, with a visitation at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be send to The Salvation Army, 215 S. 27th Ave. W, Duluth, MN 55806.

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