Helen Moen

Helen Joyce Moen (née Stiles)

August 3, 1939 – December 20, 2024

Helen Moen, 85, of Grand Forks, passed away in her sleep on December 20 at Benedictine Living Community in Crookston after a brave battle with cancer. Her suffering is concluded and she is now at peace.

Born in Larimore to Vivian and William Stiles, Helen grew up in Inkster and graduated from Inkster High School in 1957. After receiving an associate degree from Aaker’s Business College in 1958, she began her career in secretarial/administrative work. Helen had several jobs before acquiring a position as an administrative assistant at the University of North Dakota in the mid-1970s. She would work at UND in various departments over the next 24 years before retiring in the early 2000s. One of her favorite positions there was organizing tours for prospective students and seeing the excitement on their faces as they were about to begin new adventures.

Helen married her high school sweetheart, Gordon Moen, in 1959 and they had four children together – Lee (1960), Marlin (1961), Jodi (1964), and Chad (1972). After living in Racine, Wisconsin for two years, Helen and Gordon moved back to North Dakota and settled in Grand Forks in 1965. They divorced in 1985 but remained close, often attending family events together.

In addition to spending time with family, Helen enjoyed traveling, going to the lake, and dining out with friends. She worked a part time job as a hostess at one of her favorite restaurants, the Bronze Boot, likely for the employee discount! Helen loved to be out in the sun, particularly at the lake. She owned a small RV for a few years and parked it at Maple Lake, devoting much of her summers there while UND was on break. She traveled to Hawaii, New England, Yellowstone, New Orleans, Washington DC, and other places across the U.S. Later in life, she enjoyed reading, word games, and of course eating out.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, brother Robert, granddaughter Amanda Johanneck and former spouse, Gordon. She is survived by her four children – Lee (Michelle) Moen of Ballwin, MO; Marlin Moen of Inkster, ND; Jodi (Dan) Johanneck of Crookston, MN; and Chad (Mary) Moen from Fargo, ND; 13 grandchildren - Alec (Frannie) Moen, Brett Moen, Andrew Moen, Sean Moen, Michael Moen, Matt (Lani) Moen, Jake (Holly) Moen, Luke Moen (Madison Karaba), Staci (Michael) Collison, Nathan Johanneck, Leah Johanneck, Ben Moen, and Abby Moen; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters Norma Ryba and Janet Madson; and brother Gordon Stiles.

A private family service will be held at Amundson Funeral Home on January 3, 2024.