This month of January 2020 brings us to introduce another of our newer residents, Helen Schoenfeld. She was born Helen Proehl at her grandmother’s house in Mankato on the 4th of July 1926. “I’m a firecracker!” she says. She grew up on the family farm in Mapleton and went to country school (the Johnson’s School) through 8th grade. After a short time at high school, her father passed away and she was needed full time on the farm. The family moved to Waseca in 1943 and she took a job at what was then called Fairmont Canning, which is now Birdseye.
Helen met her “someone special” while hitching a ride with one of the company drivers on her day off. That driver was Clifford Schoenfeld, and he and Helen married a few years later. They rented different farms throughout the years and raised their family of 5 children – 4 boys and a girl together. They spent a lot of fun times dancing at the Kato Ballroom. Helen also enjoyed sewing, embroidering and gardening.

This past spring Helen fell, and her boys decided that it wasn’t safe for her to be living at home anymore. They moved her to Colony Court because her sister and mother had both lived here in the past. “Of course, I’d like to be living in my own house, but I don’t mind it here.” she says.

We’re glad you’re with us, and welcome!