Helen Ethel Brooks, the daughter of William and Annie (Jargine) Ching was born on November 10, 1910 in Aroya, Colorado. She moved to Castlewood, SD as a young child and graduated from Castlewood High School. On June 22, 1934, she married Clyde A Brooks in Castlewood, SD and the couple moved to Watertown. Helen worked as a seamstress, making clothing for many area people. Clyde and Helen wintered in Mesa, Arizona for over 20 years. Mr. Brooks passed away on January 3, 1989. Helen moved to 200 Maple Place in 1999. While living in Watertown, she was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, PEO for over 50 years, and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 55+ years.
Helen E Brooks passed away on Friday, August 19, 2005 in Ft Collins, CO at the age of 94.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers Hugh “Peanuts” Ching and Howard Ching; two sisters, Mary Raasch and Phyllis Olson; and son-in-law, Willand Anderson and twin great grandsons.
She is survived by three daughters, Ruthanne (Jay) Parker of Fort Collins, CO, Barbara (LeRoy) Nelson of Brookings and Janice (Bruce) Jones of Mesa AZ; two brothers, Wilbur (Wilma) Ching of Castlewood and Melvin (Hazel) Ching of Watertown; tow sisters, Margaret (Clem) Sonntag of Janesville, WI, and Lois Goldhorn of Castlewood; one brother-in-law, Ernest (Marilyn) Olson of Watertown, one sister-in-law, Eva Ching of Watertown; 8 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren.