Helen Lehrke

Helen Clare Lehrke, 103, Rapid City, died Sunday, November 11, 2012 at Golden Livingcenter Bella Vista. Helen was born in Sobieski, Minnesota on May 30, 1909. Her parents were Mike and Antonia (Kunhardt) Podraza. She was the next to the youngest of 14 children, all of whom have preceded her in death. She had a hard life as a youngster. She spent a lot of time “picking” rocks in front of her fathers’ horse-drawn plow. Her siblings in order of birth were: Joe (who died as a baby), Martin, Mary, Frances, Esther, Laura, Andrew, Mike, Frank, Rose, Stanley, Joe and Sam. She met her husband, Raymond “Jack” Lehrke as a teenager. He also lived on a farm in the area. Jack and Helen were married for over 50 years and indeed it was a marriage made in heaven, Jack died in 2003; they had no children. Helen worked for JC Penny’s for many years and retired in 1975. Survivors include many nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly.