Helen (Rootkie) Jespersen

            Helen (Rootkie) (Dufeck) Jespersen was born in Mission Creek Township on January 15, 1906 to Steve and Mary (Buchna) Rootkie.  She passed away peacefully at Sophie’s Manor Assisted Living facility in Pine City, Minnesota on June 11, 2010.  She had reached the age of 104 years, four months, and 27 days.             Helen’s first marriage was to Edward Dufeck.  They were married more than 30 years when he passed away on September 15, 1964.  On December 14, 1968, she was united in marriage to William Jespersen in Minneapolis where they made their home until 1978 when they moved to Pine City.             In her early years Helen worked at the Vanderdine store in Hinckley, Minnesota.  However, much of her life was spent providing her community with cleaning services.  Being the oldest of 13 children, much of her life was also spent caring for her siblings.             Helen loved to dance.  After she and Bill were married, they belonged to the S & P Square Dance Club in Minneapolis.  In 1987 they started their monthly Senior Citizen dances held at the Pine City American Legion, and those dances still continue.             Helen was always a very caring person and was quick to offer help to anyone in need.  She had hard working hands that were never idle.  Until her sight diminished, she was always busy knitting, crocheting, mending, and doing seamstress work.              She was especially proud of her Czechoslovakian heritage.  She could often be found baking those “kolaches” and making “knedliky”, which were raw potato dumplings cooked in boiling water and then mixed with fried cabbage and onions.  She often encouraged the younger relatives to learn the Czech language.  She was a “social butterfly” and enjoyed making new friends wherever she went.            Helen is survived by her husband, Bill, of Pine City; stepchildren:  Millicent Hanft of St. Paul, MN, Dennis (Deborah) Jespersen of Payson, AZ, Deborah Jespersen of St. Paul, Brian (Penny) Jespersen of Seattle, WA, Paula Liss of Walnut Creek, CA, and Wilford “Sonny” (Jean) Jespersen of Olympia, WA; step grandson:  Nathan Jespersen; step great grandchildren:  Eliahna and Tori Jespersen;  sisters:  Mary Jacobson and Elaine Valvoda, both of Pine City; brother:   Paul (Gertie) Rootkie of Pine City;  sisters-in-law:  Violetta Rootkie and Harriet Rootkie, both of Pine City; many nieces, nephews, and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Steve, Sr. and Mary Rootkie, sisters Julia Folta, Rose Ball, Esther Wanous and Alice Kryzer, and her brothers Steve Rootkie, Vince Rootkie, Martin Rootkie, Ray Rootkie, and Robert RootkieFuneral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 15th at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City with Reverend Vicki Vander Vegt officiating.  Interment will be in the Brook Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday also at the Swanson Funeral Chapel