Helen (Miller) Pilster passed away on January 30, 2019 at her home in the Belle Estates in Belle Fourche, SD. Mary Helen Miller was born on November 5, 1918 in Wymore, NE to Marshall and Martha Miller.
In her early years, Helen became an elementary teacher who started in rural one-room schools in Nebraska with her dear friend and roommate, Esther Jones.
Helen married Ed Pilster on July 5, 1941. They made their home on the family ranch in Alzada, MT where they raised sheep and cattle. Their marriage lasted over 60 years. To their union, two sons were born. Larry was born in 1942 followed by Robert in 1946.
For many years, Helen baked homemade bread, churned butter and made cottage cheese from fresh milk produced by the family milk cow. She made the best chicken and noodles, deviled eggs, potato salad, and lamb and barley stew. There were always chocolate chip cookies, homemade pies, cinnamon rolls or some other delicious dessert waiting at her house along with a pot of hot coffee for anyone who showed up. One time during shearing, several of her oatmeal raisin cookies were fed to the family’s lead sheep, Thumper. He loved the cookies but would spit out the raisins. She was furious! The grandkids would often keep it a secret from the others when she was baking cookies so they could eat all the cookie dough they wanted before anyone else showed up.
Helen enjoyed crossword puzzles and sewing until her eyesight no longer permitted it. She served as the resident seamstress whenever anyone needed anything patched. She created several outfits for the local Make It Yourself With Wool contest in the early 1980’s. She also served as a teacher of Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.
Throughout her life, Helen was active in the Carter County Cowbelles, Alzada Community Club, Extension Club, the Alzada Congregational Church, and the Powder River Congregational United Church of Christ. She and Ed were also members of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Woolgrowers Association and Carter County Sheep and Cattle Growers Association.
She is survived by her sons Larry (Madge) of Alzada, and Bob (Nicole) of Blackfoot, ID, grandsons Lane (Dawn) of Alzada, Nathan (Linda) of Blackfoot, ID, Brady of Ogden, UT, granddaughter Misti (Del) of Gallatin Gateway, MT, great grandchildren Trae (Marley), Madison (Eric), Carter (Carley), Branson, Emily, Laci, Caitlyn, Max and John, nephew Don (Shirley) Ramsey of Beatrice, NE, and very dear friend and caregiver for many years, Lois Burghduff of Belle Fourche, SD.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ed, brother Ralph (Vera), sister Marjorie (Charlie), grandson Shawn, and numerous close friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 29 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche, SD. Inurnment will follow the service at the Pine Slope Cemetery. Everyone is invited to join the family for a light luncheon at the church afterward.
Memorials may be made to the Alzada Volunteer Fire Department or Hospice of the Northern Hills/Spearfish.
Jerry and Joyce Strobel says
PILSTER FAMILY I smile at the sweet memories I have of you in the summer of 1965. I am assuming that Helen is the name of the dear lady who loved JESUS so much and was a lovely hostess for me and a gal from Chicago. We were staying with a Pilster family who lived on a ranch down the highway towards Broadus when this gal and I were teaching vacation Bible School in Alzada. The Chicago gal was nearly petrified as we went from community to community teaching about JESUS. I have loved over and over what the LORD taught me about Himself as we got to spend a week in many different communities and stay in many homes. I remember how tenderly Mrs. Pilster shared how JESUS was in the midst of all of our country lives. The Chicago gal could not believe that we truly loved the LORD and loved living in such a desolate area. As we haul cattle to market in Belle Fourche and go by the Pilster Ranch how thankful I am as I tell Jerry stories of the week at the Pilster ranch and getting to rejoice in the LORD together.
May God’s richest blessings be yours, Jerry and Joyce Strobel Volborg, MT.
Roberta Morgan Rickman says
Although I did not know Mrs. Pilster, like Joyce, every time I travel past the Pilster ranch I have a fond memory of a time spent there. One night, sometime in the 50’s, the Boyes School had a skating party on a pond they had (I think it was between the highway and the house). There was quite a bunch of us and I have often thought how nice of them to share their pond with us. My condolences to the family.
Del & Sharon Dinstel says
We were honored and blessed to have known Helen. She was such a dear, kind lady. She greeted us with a smile, always liked to visit, and usually fed us something. We have fond memories of Helen. Our most sincere condolences to all of you.
Sylvia Zimmer says
Heartfelt sympathy and thoughts go to all….