Helen Esther Ruohoniemi

October 23, 1928 – January 9, 2026

Helen Esther Ruohoniemi, a woman of gentle strength, upbeat spirit, and enduring faith, passed away peacefully at the age of 97. Known to her family as the heart of their home, Helen lived a life defined by the intentional, beautiful patterns she created in both her textiles and her community.

Born in Minneapolis to Otis and Ruth Marvick, Helen grew up in Sisseton, South Dakota. As the eldest of three daughters, she was raised in a small-town environment where the threads of family, church, and friendship were tightly interlaced. Following the path set by her parents, she enrolled at St. Olaf College in 1946. While at St. Olaf, Helen met Matt Ruohoniemi; they married in 1950 and shared a beautiful life together for more than 70 years.

Helen graduated from the Fairview Hospital School of Nursing in 1950, and while Matt rose through the ranks at Carnation and 3M, Helen balanced the roles of a private duty nurse and a mother of four. She navigated the demands of being an executive wife with grace, eventually channeling her eye for detail as a wardrobe consultant for Doncaster Clothing. Whether she was working as a clinic nurse at Group Health or hosting bridge groups in Roseville, Helen brought a steady, cheerful presence to every room.

Helen was also a skilled weaver and artisan. In 1982, she and Matt retired to Colorado, where Helen studied under a master weaver from the Boulder Weaving Guild. Her craft was a symbol of her generous spirit; every holiday she would weave and knit hand towels, blankets, Finnish “sauna mats,” and Christmas ornaments to be gifted to those she loved. Her daughter, Linda, will now take over the loom, keeping Helen’s patterns alive.

In her final years at the Johanna Shores retirement community, Helen was legendary for her vitality. Known as "The Walker," she clocked thousands of steps a day, rain or shine, using the heated garages when the Minnesota winter proved too fierce. She was also a self-proclaimed “planner,” always looking ahead with optimism and organization. She remained vibrant until the end, participating in drumming, yoga, and games of Scrabble with her dear friend, Flo, and her great-granddaughter, Hazel.

Helen’s legacy of love continues through her sister, Carolyn Leech, and her sister-in-law, Esther Ruohoniemi. She remains the golden thread in the lives of her four children and their spouses. Her spirit lives on in her 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, who will forever cherish the blankets and memories she crafted for them. Helen now joins her beloved husband, Matt, and her great-grandson, Riggins Larson, in eternal rest, leaving behind a family fabric that is forever strengthened by her grace, love, and compassion.

A celebration of Helen's life will be scheduled at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Optage Hospice Services at Presbyterian Homes.