Hellen M. Dehn, 85, Albany

May 28, 1931 - August 18, 2016

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Hellen M. Dehn, 85, Albany, will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 22, 2016 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, St. Anthony.  Father Cletus Connors, OSB will officiate and burial will take place in the parish cemetery.  Hellen passed away Thursday evening at Mother of Mercy in Albany with children at her side.  There will be a visitation from 4:00-8:00 PM Sunday, August 21, 2016 at the Miller-Carlin Funeral Home in Albany and again after 10:00 AM Monday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in St. Anthony.  Parish prayers will be at 8:00 PM Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Hellen was born on May 28, 1931 to William L. and Julia M. (Bolduc) Thibodeau in Hamel.  She grew up with three siblings in Corcoran; there she remained until her marriage.  On September 15, 1952, Hellen wed Norbert L. Dehn and the two made their home in Anoka.  They had nine children in the 23 years they spent there and, in 1973, they moved to Albany where they continued to farm.  Hellen enjoyed card games, fishing, camping, and later driving the RV to Arizona when she and Norbert spent winters there.  She was always able to make do with what she had and could fix anything.  She would sew and mend clothes for the family and enjoyed embroidering and quilting.  Although she didn't love cooking, she was very good at it.

Hellen was an excellent baker and often made and decorated wedding cakes for family.  She enjoyed gardening and preserving or canning what she grew in addition to her flower gardens.  Family was very important to Hellen.  She cared for Norbert until a few years ago, cherished time spent with her children and their families, and hosted all holiday gatherings until recently.  Hellen was a very religious woman who was gracious and generous with her time.  She volunteered until she was 80 years old at the Albany Community Center, Meals on Wheels, Helping Hands, and in various ways at her church.  Hellen was a member of St. Anthony's Church, the Christian Mothers, and the Catholic Aid Society.

Hellen is survived by her husband of 64 years Norbert Dehn, Albany; her children Jeanny (Ken) Nelson, Maple Grove; Joseph (Lisa) Dehn, Anoka; Steve (Joan) Dehn, St. Cloud; Kurt (Sandi) Dehn, Avon; Susan (Ed) Partch, Little Falls; Christeen (Darrel) Notch, Eden Valley; Julie (Jim) Wensmann, Elmdale; Kenneth (Sandy) Dehn, Sauk Rapids; Mary (Todd) Miller, St. Cloud; her sisters Leona (Ken) Kluck, Corcoran; Lillian (Chuck) Emery, Loretto;  her 25 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; and other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents William and Julia Thibodeau, her grandson Jordan Wensmann and great-granddaughter Liberty Wilson, her brother and sister-in-law Henry "Hank" and Marvel Thibodeau.