Terry Helfenstein

Terry Helfenstein, 45, Bismarck, died September 3, 2010, with his family by his side at Medcenter One Hospital, after an ongoing battle with epilepsy and pneumonia. Services will be held at 3:00 pm Tuesday, September 7, at Medcenter One St. Vincent’s Care Center, Bismarck, with Rev. Marv Mutzenberger officiating. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm Monday, September 6, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to the service at St. Vincent’s Care Center. Terry was born May 11, 1965, in Bismarck, ND, the son of Edward Helfenstein and Caroleen Harveland Emineth-Helfenstein. Even though Terry’s life would seem limited to many, he was able to touch people that were fortunate to know him. Terry cherished life’s little things such as tie-die clothing which was extended to his devoted caregivers at his residence in St. Vincent’s Care Center in Bismarck. Terry loved to cook his famous chili which only a person with a spicy palette would dare to taste. Terry’s interests consisted of listening to music; heavy metal, rock & roll, country and soothing, watching his favorite television show, “Survivor,” or his football team the Denver Bronco’s play on TV, or bird watching when he was not able to put together a puzzle or play board games with friends, family and staff members. When capable, Terry demonstrated an interest in classic cars and was able to recently attend Buggies-n-Blues in Mandan, ND. Terry’s lifelong dream was to ride and own a traditional Harley Davidson Motorcycle and ride with his friends listening to the winds of change. Terry’s desire for life was not narrowed by how much a person earns or what type of material possessions they may have accumulated in their lifetime as long as they demonstrated an active lifestyle. His desire to make people around him as happy as much as he could, even if it meant staying up all night listening to music and giving a concerned ear to his caregivers in Jamestown at the State Hospital to reading/giving a Bible to his friends at the North Dakota State Industrial School. Residents and staff members all agree that Terry brought them great joy and he will be greatly missed. Terry is survived by his loving family, his mother, Caroleen Harveland, Bismarck; his younger sisters, Christine Helfenstein, and her son, Aaron Moncada, Grand Forks; and Tracy Helfenstein and her special friend, Erik Montgomery, Center; his father, Edward Helfenstein and his wife, Elmira and their daughters, Sandy Helfenstein, and Missy Bob Nibby; his compassionate aunts, Margaret Duke Windhorst, Linda Emineth, Betty Jerry Honeycutt, Pauline Worden and Mary Ann Adolf Kooteney; and his uncle and babysitter, Gary Rita; and numerous loving cousins. Terry was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mae Feist-Emineth amd Martin Emineth, Ceceila DeCoteau-Helfenstein and Edward J. Helfenstein; and his uncles, Richard Helfenstein and Danny Helfenstein.

Terry Helfenstein

May 11, 1965 - September 3, 2010