Obituary: Helen Karpen

Helen Karpen

Carrington, N.D.

Helen Karpen, age 90, of Carrington, N.D., passed away peacefully on July 2, 2022. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by love and prayers with her family at CHI St Alexius Health, Carrington, N.D.

A rosary service was held on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. followed by visitation from 5 - 6 p.m. with family present, all at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington. Helen's Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carrington. Her burial was at the Carrington Cemetery. Father Terry Dodge officiated with special music by Marlene Boyer, pianist, and the Sacred Heart Choir. Pallbearers were Amy Zimmerman, Jesse Schroeder, Brooke Kutz, Heather Berglund, Heidi Brown and Anthony Hoffman.

Helen Mae "Honey" Carr was born on September 4, 1931 in Carrington, N.D. to J.M. and Mabel (Baklund) Carr. She was the fifth of seven children. Her childhood years were spent running and playing around the family farm, doing chores and avoiding taking care of the chickens when possible. Reading became a passion at an early age which continued throughout her life until her eyesight became a challenge.

Helen graduated from Carrington High School in 1949 and attended one year of college at Mount St. Clare Women's College in Clinton, Iowa. She benefited from her relationship with the college dean - her aunt, Sister Cyrilla Carr.

Helen dreamed of traveling and seeing the world so when the FBI visited the campus in 1950 looking for women interested in working for the Bureau, she leaped at the chance and interviewed for the position. She was accepted and worked for the FBI in Washington, DC from September 1950 until 1952 when she was called home due to her mother's illness.

Her mother recovered and she was invited by a close friend to move to Davenport, Iowa. She eagerly jumped on a train to experience a new adventure working at Interstate Finance until 1953. Helen moved to Fargo, N.D. and worked for Bell Telephone as an executive secretary until 1955. During this time period, she met a tall, dark and handsome Game and Fish Biologist who made her want to return to Carrington.

Helen married George Karpen on June 18, 1955 at Sacred Heart Church in Carrington where they made their home for the rest of their lives. She worked as a secretary at Dakota Electric and REA for several years while taking care of her growing family. In 1972, Helen began her career at Carrington Hospital in the business office and worked her way up to Director of Medical Records. She retired in 1996 after working for the healthcare system for almost 25 years.

Helen is survived by daughters, Linda (Ken) Carlson, Grand Forks, N.D.; Camille Karpen, Grand Forks, N.D.; Eileen (Gary) Hoffman, Carrington, N.D.; Christine Schroeder (Timothy Schmeets), Carrington, N.D.; sister, Evelyn Copenhaver, Lakewood, Calif..; Brothers, Clifford, Las Vegas, Nev.; Joseph (Rita), Seal Beach, Calif.; John, St Anthony, Minn.; six grandchildren: Amy (Brian) Zimmerman, Pendleton, Ore.; Jesse Schroeder, Carrington, N.D.; Brooke (Seth) Kutz, Carrington, N.D.; Heather (Ross) Berglund, Chaska, Minn.; Heidi (Jade) Brown, Horace, N.D.; Anthony (Jalissa) Hoffman, Fargo, N.D.; seventeen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband George; her parents J.M. and Mabel Carr; her father and mother-in-law John P. and Agnes Karpen; brothers James & Fritz; sisters-in-law Lorraine (James), Lucille (Fritz), Louise (Clifford); brother-in-law, Cyrus (Evelyn) Copenhaver; and son-in-law, Jeffrey Schroeder.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of New Rockford, N.D.