Helen L. (Brink) Crabtree

Click here to view Helen's Mass of Christian Burial.

Helen L. Crabtree, 96, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at the Strasburg Care Center in Strasburg, ND.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 26, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father Michael Griffin as celebrant.

Burial will take place at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at the mortuary, and one hour prior to Mass at the church on Friday.

Family and friends may sign Helen’s online guestbook and also view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Helen L. Brink was born November 15, 1922, to Ivan and Ruth (Joslin) Brink in Aberdeen, SD.  She attended St. Mary’s Parochial School and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School.  Following graduation, Helen furthered her education at the Aberdeen School of Commerce.

Helen was united in marriage to Donald S. Crabtree on May 28, 1946, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen. The couple made Aberdeen their home, where in addition to being a wife and mother, Helen also did office work for Ackerman Welding and later worked for Aberdeen Monument.  She and Donald raised one daughter and shared almost 16 years of marriage together before he passed away on March 12, 1962.

Helen was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she was active in the Altar Society.  She was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Blessed to have shared in Helen’s life is her daughter, Cindy (Tom) Fischer of Bismarck, ND; her grandchildren, T.J. (Jane) Fischer and Stephanie (Luke) Mahar; seven great-grandchildren: Ryder, Cooper, Brody, Olivia, Marley, Drew, and River; one sister, Ida Reis of Mobridge, SD; one sister-in-law, Sandy Brink of Aberdeen; and many nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents, Ivan and Ruth; one brother, Bob Brink; and three sisters:  Betty Stein, Isabelle Brink, and Iva Brink.