Helen Louise Seiler

10/28/1928 — 7/25/2023

Helen L. Seiler was born in Gayville, South Dakota. Her parents, Inga Karin Skaane and Myron

Karl Gudmunson, although the grandchildren of Norwegian immigrants, both spoke fluent

Norwegian. During the Depression, Helen lived on her grandparents’ farm in South Dakota until

her father became a U.S. Customs agent. He moved his family to Pembina North Dakota which

was close to the Canadian border where he worked. They lived there until 1947 when they

moved to San Diego.

Helen began playing the organ for church at age 12. She was tutored as a concert pianist at

the University of Winnipeg in Canada beginning in her teens. From Pembina she rode the train

and the bus to get to her lesson after which she was served tea and pastry before she made

the return trip to North Dakota. She attended Concordia University in Moorehead Minnesota

before the move to San Diego where she graduated from San Diego State College with a

Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music in 1949.

Helen performed in worship services throughout her lifetime in San Diego County. At various

times she was organist, choir director and music directory. She began her career at First

Lutheran in La Mesa then moved to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in East County. After years

there she went to La Jolla Lutheran Church where a multi-manual pipe-organ was built for her.

With her husband Jim and 5 others couples she founded Calvary Lutheran Church of Del Mar

(now Solana Beach) in 1964 where she served as organist and choir director. At the age of 94,

she was the last surviving founder. Later she was music director at Torrey Pines Christian

Church and played at other churches throughout the County including First Christian in Chula

Vista and Tierrasanta Christian Church. She performed on the renown Spreckles Organ at the

Balboa Park Pavilion. She also was an active member of the Spreckles Organ Society, the

American Guild of Organists, the California Teachers Association, the National Education

Association (NEA) and the Valhalla Lodge of the Sons of Norway.

Beginning in 1952, at the age of 24, she became the music teacher at Pacific Beach Junior

High where she later met the math teacher, James Seiler, who became her husband. She

taught continuously throughout the school system for the next 62 years becoming the longest

serving teacher in the County. Through the San Diego Adult Education system she worked at

the VA hospital in La Jolla during the Viet Nam War. She was an innovator in music therapy

helping traumatized vets first to sing until they could regain their voice to speak. Along with

Betsy Pelling, she wrote a book about their program called, Let’s Make It Happen. While

working and raising 4 children, she finished a Masters of Education degree at Pepperdine

University. Additionally she recorded several CDs of her piano music including a Christmas

album, a selection of Edward Grieg tunes, and one of popular music.

Helen loved to have fun surrounded by friends and family. Whether it was entertaining

neighbors, family throughout all the holidays, church and choir members, friends from clubs

and work or my Dad’s Navy buddies when he was on active duty during the summer, she

excelled at providing good food with good times. She will be greatly missed.

Helen is survived by four of her five children, Karen, Bruce, Karl and Dean, 5 grandchildren and

5 great grandchildren.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sorrentovalleychapel.com for the Seiler family.