Helen Eileen St. George

Helen Yennie Sawinski St. George, age 92 of La Jolla, CA, passed away at her residence on Saturday, September 4, 2010. Helen lived in Rochester, MN for the first 71 years and in La Jolla, CA for the last 21 years of her life. She graduated from Rochester High School, raised five children, enjoyed gardening and outdoors activities, worked in ladies clothing retail sales and as a nursing assistant at the Mayo Clinic, and was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church at Rochester; and she spent the latter years of her life in retirement enjoying family and friends at La Jolla. She led an active life and enjoyed traveling. Helen is survived by: five children from her first marriage to August J. Sawinski - Richard (Diane) Sawinski of Loudon, TN, Kay Sawinski of Rochester, MN, Jill (Kent) Dahlquist of St. Cloud, MN, Michael (Cherie) Sawinski of Duluth, MN, and David (Colleen) Sawinski of Elgin, MN; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; and two step-children from her second marriage to Francis E. St. George, formerly of Rochester - Deborah St. George of San Diego, CA, and David (Laura) St. George of Sherwood, OR and one step-grandchild. Helen was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Clara Yennie, her sister Dorothy Gray, two spouses, and an infant grandson. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 3rd Ave SE, in Rochester with Rev. Norman Wahl officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will be in the Yennie family plot in Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN.(507) 289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com