Helen A. Denis

Helen Ann Denis died peacefully surrounded by loved-ones on May 17, 2026 at St Catherine’s North, where she had resided for the past 6 years. Born on August 14, 1927, Helen was the cherished only child of Robert and Catherine Metzger. She enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Grandin, ND, ice skating on the river near their farm and going to school in a horse drawn sleigh.

After graduating from high school, she moved to Fargo with her parents and began working. Over the years she was employed by the Fargo Foundry, the Fargo American Legion and Pioneer Mutual Insurance Company, from where she retired in 1992. During an era when many women did not work outside the home, Helen was employed throughout her adult life and eventually promoted to supervise a team. She was an example to her daughters and granddaughters that women could have a career and be independent.

Helen was very social and had many friends, as evidenced by the stream of visitors during the last weeks of her life. She loved traveling, having fun with friends, cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren during their sporting events, rooting for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs, and spending decades of summer vacations on Ottertail Lake prior to purchasing a home on Lake Sybil.

In 1949, Helen married Morris Denis, who passed away in 1977. She is survived by her daughters, Catherine (James) Knudson and Teresa Nightengale; grandchildren, Tracy (Verne Wolf) Alderman, Tawnia Olson, Jason (Linda) Denis, and bonus grandson, Andy Nightengale; great-grandchildren, Lexi (Jimmy) Uhlich, Lucas Blomberg, Isaac (Katie) Alderman, Jordan (Catherine) Olson, Preston Olson and bonus great-grandsons, Rodney Wolf and Elliot Wolf, as well as five great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to SMP St Catherine’s North in Fargo.