Eckhoff, Mary Helen
age 97 of Cokato, passed away at the Cokato Manor on Thursday, January 23, 2014. She was born December 14, 1916 in Henning, Minnesota to Hiram and Mary (Davis) Vought. She was raised on the family farm in Girard Township. She attended country school. Helen was baptized and confirmed in Seattle, Washington. She was united in marriage to William Eckhoff on September 21, 1937. This union was blessed with the birth of two sons and a daughter. Helen and Bill had traveled to Washinton State together with Helen’s father, where they worked various jobs. At the start of the war they bought a house on Beacon Hill in Seattle where they lived until returning to Minnesota in 1945 to farm near Henning. In 1966 they returned to Seattle were Helen worked in the airline industry on Boeing 747 aircraft. She returned to retire in Dassel Minnesota in 1974.
She is survived by her son Richard (Judy) Eckhoff of Cokato, Son-in-law Dennis Cross of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Daughter-in-law Phyllis Eckhoff of Sauk Rapids, Sister-in-laws Vera Eckhoff and Lucia Kennicut. 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson, along with several other family and friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Roger, and daughter Barbara Cross along with 4 brothers and one sister and one Great-Grandson, Andrew Eckhoff.
Funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on Monday, January 27, 2014 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake with visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake & Cokato (320)543-3401 www.swansonpeterson.com