Helen Dickson

Helen K. Dickson, age 93, of Park Rapids, Minnesota died on Friday, October 9, 2015 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids. Helen was born September 23, 1922 in Danville, Illinois to Lillian and William Baer and was raised and educated in Danville through the eighth grade. She attended high school in Aleda, Illinois and then went on to McMurray College for Women in Jacksonville, Illinois where she majored in speech and drama. In 1950 Helen married Gerald Dickson and together they owned the Clear Valley Telephone Company of Clearwater/Clear Lake, Minnesota for thirteen years. In 1965, Helen attained her B.S. degree in education from Utah State University and her M.Ed. in 1970 from Central Washington State University. Her educational endeavors such as elementary teacher, curriculum specialist and elementary principal took her to Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Washington State. She and her husband moved to Park Rapids, Minnesota in 1976. He died the following year, but Helen continued on as a substitute teacher as well as a GED examiner, while she ran her Dickson Viking Hus Bed and Breakfast and Aunt Helen's Watercolor business. She was an active member of The White Birch Artists, Leech Lake Artists and Stony Creek Artists. Her fun-loving personality was reflected in the use of bright colors and often whimsical figures. Another talent not so well known was her ability to express herself in verse. She had many of her poems published, some of them in the International Library of Poetry. Helen was also active in many organizations including the local school board, Hubbard County Historical Society, North Country Museum of Arts, Heartland Concert Association, Chamber of Commerce, Itasca Area Lakes Tourism Association, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Riverside United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and Eagles Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her only sibling, Betty. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday, October 16, 2015 at Riverside United Methodist Church in Park Rapids, MN with Pastor Lori Nielsen officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be made at Evergreen Cemetery in Staples, MN. Memorials preferred to the Helen Dickson Art Scholarship. To leave online condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com