Mary-Ellen Helgen

Mary-Ellen Helgen, 60, of Mesquite, Nev., died Sept. 24, 2016, in St. George, Utah. A non-smoker, she died of complications from lung cancer. A celebration, of a life well-lived, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 900 Soo San Drive in Rapid City, S.D. Inurnment services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the Black Hills National Cemetery. Mary-Ellen Dusek was born on Dec. 13, 1955, in Rapid City, to Dorrance and Ernestine Dusek. She attended elementary and middle school in Rapid City and graduated from Stevens High School in 1974. She married the late John Helgen on Aug. 31, 1974, in Rapid City and lived in Lompoc, Calif., Wichita, Kan., and in Rapid City while John was serving in the United States Air Force. Their son, Eric, was born in Rapid City on Feb. 5, 1976. John Helgen died on Jan. 2, 2000. She subsequently met Ron Galbraith of Rapid City, her partner for the past 16 years; they moved to Mesquite in 2013. Mary-Ellen worked at Greentree/GE Financial for 14 years before she and Ron each retired and moved to Mesquite. Mary-Ellen loved spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends. She liked the ocean and lighthouses, and spending time at the family cabin in Centennial, Wyo., as long as she didn't have to do the dishes. She loved to laugh and was known for her often-irreverent sense of humor and quick wit. She was a member of PEO for 30 years. Mary-Ellen will be greatly missed by her family and by all who knew her. Mary-Ellen is survived by her partner of 16 years, Ron Galbraith; her son Eric, a commander in the United States Coast Guard, and daughter-in-law Alison Helgen of Dumfries, Va.; grandchildren Ian and Emily Helgen, also of Dumfries; brother John Dusek (Connie) of Rapid City; sister Kathleen Dusek-Lien (the late John) of Waite Park, Minn.; sister Margaret Dusek (Brooks Hatch) of Corvallis, Ore., and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Helgen, and by her brother-in-law, John Lien. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to PEO International-Program for Continuing Education, 3700 Grand Ave, Des Moines IA 50312. The family invites you to leave a message or a memory on their guest book at virginvalleymortuary.com.