Mary Helen Rumpca was a caring wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She left this world suddenly April 14, 2022.
Mary Helen was born to Helen and Raymond Reichkitzer April 27, 1940, in Stillwater. Mary Helen graduated from Stillwater High School and later from Mankato State College with her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. After passing the Minnesota State Nursing Boards, she worked at Lakeview Hospital prior to meeting and marrying James Rumpca in 1962.
Mary Helen was very passionate about life and spending time with those she loved. Not only was she a very busy mother, she also managed various departments at Village Drug in Sauk Rapids, which she and James owned and managed. Mary Helen continued her education in interior design. For many years she provided piano lessons to several students in the Sauk Rapids/St. Cloud area.
Mary Helen was a skilled pianist and filled their home with classical, ragtime and jazz music. She loved decorating and gardening. Mary Helen enjoyed fishing excursions, waterskiing, and snowmobiling adventures along with the solitude of cross-country skiing. She was a fitness and biking enthusiast who was very passionate about “giving back” to others, having cycled the TRAM (The Ride across Minnesota) 15 times to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Both James and Mary Helen traveled the world, visiting over 40 countries.
Mary Helen is survived by husband James; children James Lee (Susan), Jill (Steve) Anseth, Joelyn (Steve) Barrett, and Janette Rumpca Burley; grandchildren Amanda (Erik) Bostrom and Ryan Rumpca; brother Jack Reichkitzer; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Kay (Pete) Curtis, brother Donald (Carol) Reichkitzer, and grandchildren Adam Rumpca and BB, Grace, Miles and Mia Helen Burley.
The Mass of Christian Burial is Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Motley, with visitation one hour prior.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
André House (Ministry to the homeless and poor populations in Phoenix, Arizona) and National Multiple Sclerosis Society
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