Surrounded by her daughters, who dearly loved her, Eileen Wick took her first breath in heaven on the morning of Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Eileen Rosetta Wick, 84, was born to Bill and Luella (Miller) Wick on 9/20/1940 in the hospital in Powers Lake, ND, joining her older brother, Vernon, whom she always had a very close relationship with. When Bill was discharged from the service, the family moved to Coteau, ND, where Eileen attended grades 1-4. Eileen remembers having a very happy childhood, blessed with her wonderful parents and siblings. Her dad played guitar, banjo and violin, and there was always music in their home. She excelled in singing while growing up and when she was 4 or 5 years old, her dad arranged to accompany her and her older brother, Vernon, to sing for the PTA. They sang post-war songs such as “Two Little Orphans” and “Tell Me Why My Daddy Don’t Come Home”.

The family moved to Minot, ND, when Eileen was in 5th grade. When she was 15, she and a friend rode a bus to Hackensack, MN, to participate in a music festival where she won an award for her performance of “In the Garden”. Her family moved to Anamoose, ND, in 1956 when she was a Junior in high school, graduating from Anamoose High School in 1958. Eileen enjoyed being a member of the high school Girl’s Sextet, and they sang at their graduation.

On June 12, 1958, Eileen married her high school sweetheart, Lanny Helm, at St Martin’s Lutheran Church in Anamoose. To this union, four daughters were born; Leslie, Lynette, LaRae and Crystal. They later divorced. In March of 1972, Eileen and her daughters moved to Stanley, ND, to be close to her mom and dad.

Eileen relocated over the next several years and worked mainly as a bookkeeper during her life. In 2002, she returned to Minot to help her aging parents, and also worked at ING Insurance until her retirement. Eileen was engaged to her longtime companion, Les Lauer, and they spent winters in Apache Junction, AZ, until his death in 2022. In 2023, Eileen permanently relocated to Apache Junction and thoroughly enjoyed her time there where she had many friends, her brothers, Dick and Don, and niece, Erin.

Eileen was an excellent seamstress and sewed most of her girls’ clothes all through their childhood, as well as many formal dresses for high school music events. She enjoyed crafting, making home-made greeting cards, stamping, and was an excellent decorator. She loved shopping, second-hand stores and garage sales, and had an eye for old furniture, unique shaped glass bottles, and clothing that she could “re-do” and turn into a beautiful piece. Eileen loved working on her AZ home and had it fixed up so nice, both inside and out. But Eileen said many times, especially during the final weeks of her life, that her daughters were her greatest accomplishment in life. She loved them dearly and was very proud of all of them.

Eileen’s mom and dad taught her about Jesus and were a wonderful example of God’s unconditional love to her and her girls. When she was about 14 years old, she accepted Jesus as her Savior at a Salvation Army Church. Around 2000, Eileen rededicated her life completely to the Lord and she was thankful for His love and grace, and was comforted by the fact that she would spend eternity with Him in heaven. Eileen was a member of Bethel Free Lutheran Church in Minot, ND, and Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Apache Junction, AZ.

Eileen is survived by her daughters, Leslie (Kim) Lang of Stanley, ND; Lynette (Jim) McDowell of Cedar Rapids, IA; LaRae Helm of Gillette, WY; and Crystal Helm of Wasta, SD; grandchildren Jennifer Vaage, Michelle Wenger, Jonathan Vaage, Jada Lang, Katie Elliott, Dawn Christensen, James Helm, Bekki Engquist-Schroeder and Jenna Engquist; 13 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren; brothers Richard Wick and Donald (LuAnn) Wick, sister-in-law Sharon Wick, former sister-in-law, Diane Pfeilschiefter, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, and two special friends who treated mom like their own, Vicki Cole and Jason Ronglien. She will be greatly missed.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, companion Les Lauer, brother Vernon, sister Darlene, sister-in-law Kathy Wick, granddaughter Denille Engquist, great-grandson Willie Helm, special friend, Bernie Fenstermacker.

John 3:16 was Eileen’s favorite Bible verse, which she learned and memorized at a very young age. The day before she passed, she lovingly quoted the verse to her daughters as they visited.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him shall not die but have everlasting life.”