Helen Natalie Friedrichs

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2288

Let the celebration and memories begin! On February 10, 2014, Helen Natalie Friedrichs was called home to heaven by her Lord and Savior. An opportunity to share memories and stories will be held from 4 " 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Northview - Mankato Mortuary. A service of celebration and song will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Mankato, Minnesota, Pastor Paul D. Nolting officiating. There will also be time for sharing memories and stories one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Immanuel Lutheran School Endowment Fund, the Alzheimer Association, or the donor's choice.

Helen was born on May 21, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to immigrant parents August and Julianna Schinschke. She, her brother and sisters, attended St. Lucas Lutheran Church on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Milwaukee. She attended Lutheran high school, and was led to attend Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota to pursue an education degree. After a short time there, she was assigned to teach at Immanuel Lutheran School in Mankato. There she met Erwin O. Friedrichs, and they were married on August 11, 1951. They built their home at 1732 East Main Street, Mankato in the early 1950s, where they eventually began raising their family - Karl (LuAnn) Friedrichs, Marie (Gary) Griffin, Fred (Kari) Friedrichs, Ruth (Jim) Wellmann, and Heidi (Rusty) Parker. When all of her children were in grade school, she was called to resume teaching the 1st and 2nd grades at Immanuel Lutheran School. She taught for a total of 28 years. After retirement she continued to teach her grandchildren and the children of others while she babysat for them. She was continually on the go. She moved to Pathstone Living in 2008, and eventually to Cottagewood Memory Care.

She is survived by her children and her grandchildren - Kate (Rob) Sauers, MacKenzie (Jaclyn) Friedrichs, Meredith Friedrichs; Cory Griffin and fiance Matt Sawyer, Caitlin Griffin, Daniel Griffin; Joseph (Kristen) Friedrichs, Jacquelyn (Ross) Libby, Travis Friedrichs; Terry (Amanda) Friedrichs, Emmilla Turner; Abraham Parker, and Olivia Parker. She is also survived by seven great grandchildren. She was predeceased in death by husband Erwin, brother Adolph Schinschke, sisters Martha Lindberg, Shirley Rutkowski, and Agnes Neitzke, as well as her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.