Helen Hegwood

Dates

Obituary

Helen Hegwood, 92, of Mitchell, SD, died Monday, July 4, 2022, at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, July 11, at Faith Missionary Church in Mitchell. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Helen Margaret (Robertson) Hegwood, was born in Scribner, MN on September 12, 1929, to Henry Daniel Robertson & Margaret Helen (Ekholm) Robertson.  She was the oldest child of a family of six children – Helen, Sam, Gladys, Lola, Harry & Jim.

On July 30, 1948, she was married to Vernon Luther Hegwood in Benton City, Washington.  To this union, five (5) children were born – Susan Kay, Sharon Marie, Raymond Luther and “the Twins” - Donald Daniel & Ronald Samuel.  All the children were born in different locations, as the family lived in the towns where Vernon’s parents, Rev. M.L. and Ethel Hegwood resided, and he was a pastor who moved every two (2) years.  This custom was changed when they moved to Mitchell, SD in 1967.

Helen had been a secretary at an Atomic Plant prior to her marriage, but after the marriage to Vernon, she devoted her entire life to taking care of her home and household, while he was the breadwinner & businessman.  They had been married for almost 68 years, when he left her very unexpectedly on June 17, 2016, for heaven…

Helen was an excellent seamstress having made her own clothes through the years and altering the twin’s clothes (depending on their size) always keeping them identically clothed while they were in her care.

She enjoyed gardening each year – and had an abundance of tomatoes and cucumbers, which she shared with the family.  The cucumbers made fantastic dill pickles, which were a part of every Sunday dinner and the birthday parties.

Sunday dinners were always at her house with all the family present, who lived closeby.  These dinners were always fried chicken, and her chickens did NOT have just two (2) legs – they had numerous legs (to ensure that everyone who preferred that piece of meat, would have it) and her chickens also did not have just one (1) gizzard, but had to have two (2) to make sure that the in-laws did not squabble!  In addition, there were at least four (4) different kinds of pie, so that all the family members would have their favorite kind.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Vernon in 2016, and two of her sons – Raymond in 2011 and Ronald in 2021; and son-in-law, K. Andrew McVey in 2018.  Also, her brothers, Sam & Harry and sisters, Gladys and Lola.

Survivors are daughters – Susan (Keith) Hunt of Oelrichs, SD and Sharon McVey of Shoals, Indiana and a son, Donald of Mitchell, SD; daughter-in-law, Miriam Hegwood of Culbertson, NE.

Seven (7) grandchildren –Ben McVey; Rhonda (Shawn) Carney; Jeff (Susan) Hunt; Chad Hunt; LaVerna (Tim) Anderson; Jeanie (Jerimy) Bultje; and Martin (Bethany) Hunt.

Eighteen (18) Great-grandchildren and one (1) great-great grandchild.

Brother Jim (Vonnie) Robertson of Florida and (2) sisters-in-law, June Robertson of Idaho, and Laurel (Hegwood) Wilson of Missouri.

(2) Brother-in-laws – Milton (Florence) Hegwood of McCook, NE and Jon (Marsha) Hegwood of Gering, NE, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen has now been reunited with her beloved husband, Vernon, the two sons who have gone before; and at home with Jesus whom she served so faithfully.

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Cemetery