Obituary: Alma Helm

Alma Helm

Grand Forks, N.D.

Alma E. Helm, 99, of Grand Forks, N.D. and formerly of New Rockford, N.D. passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Valley Senior Living, Transitional Care Unit in Grand Forks.

Memorial liturgy was held on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, at the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was held on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at St. John Cemetery, New Rockford, N.D.

Alma Eileen Klosterman was born on July 17, 1922, in Woodstock, Minn. the daughter of Frank and Anna (Schilling) Klosterman. The family moved to North Dakota about ten years later, to a sheep ranch in Ransom County, and later to several farms in Richland County.

Alma graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1940. She went on to attend Valley City State Teachers College, and graduated with bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and an Elementary Principal Certification. Alma married Otto "Pete" Helm on December 27, 1947, in the St. John' Rectory in Wahpeton. They moved to Fessenden, N.D. and then to New Rockford in 1948. There they raised four daughters, Rosanne, Paula, Colette and Rita. An infant daughter, Stefanie died from a congenital heart condition.

In 1962, Alma began twenty-one school terms under contract with the New Rockford Public School System. This included teaching elementary education, Title One Administrator, and five terms as a full-time elementary principal. Alma retired in June 1984, ready to enjoy life with Pete and family. Sadly, Pete passed away in October of that year.

After selling her house a year later, she spent five years in an apartment in New Rockford. She moved to Grand Forks where she resided for 28 years. In the fall of 2018, she moved to Parkwood Senior Living in Grand Forks.

She is survived by her daughters, Rosanne Helm, Paula (Tom) Wolfe, Colette (Bob) Monroe and Rita (Randy) Romanoski; grandchildren, Jaimee (Jonas Rybrand) Watson, Jermey (Tiffany) Wolfe, Jessica (Kevin) Kortba, Kristen (Eric) Buzay, Ryan (Kristin) Romanoski, David Romanoski, Jared Romanoski; great-grandchildren, Miles Rybrand, Theodore Rybrand, Addison Kotrba, Carson Kotrba, Finn Buzay, Emma Romanoski, Kylie Romanoski; nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Peggy Klosterman Brockamp.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto "Pete" Helm; her parents; all of her brothers and sisters; and an infant daughter, Stephanie.

In lieu of flowers, Alma's family requests that memorials be given to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Valley Senior Living, Transitional Care Unit.

Arrangements by the Historic Norman Funeral Home, Grand Forks, N.D.