HELGA MCNEILL

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HELGA MCNEILL (nee JOHANSON) Helga McNeill, aged 97, passed away May 17, 2016 at the Dinsdale Personal Care Home in Brandon, MB. Helga was born October 28, 1918 near Langruth MB. as one of nine surviving children to Johann and Birgitta Johanson. Helga is survived by her son Rene (Linda); daughter Denise (Bill); grandson Tyler (Jaclyn); brother Clifford and sisters-in-law Lois and Marian and numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her parents, brothers Joe, Bjarni, Ole and Steine, and sisters, Bea, Laura & Sarah. She spent her youth on the Johanson family farm in the Hollywood S.D. near Langruth. She helped her mother with raising some of her siblings and performed the usual household chores typical of the time on a family farm. Always interested in sports she played softball, and later curled, bowled and golfed. Helga took her teachers training at Normal school in Winnipeg and taught school in the Hollywood S.D. and at Valley River school near Grandview, Manitoba. At the latter she met Raymond McNeill of Grandview, whom she married on August 17, 1942 while Raymond was in the RCAF stationed at Dauphin, MB. Son Rene was born while they lived near Dauphin where Raymond taught school at Wilson River. About five years later they moved to a farm at Langruth where Raymond farmed and taught school. Daughter Denise was born while they lived on the farm. After a few years on the farm the family moved into Langruth where Helga and Raymond resided until they retired to Neepawa in 1976. After Raymond's death in 1984 Helga moved into an apartment complex in Neepawa where she resided until age 90 before moving to the Victoria Landing retirement residence in Brandon and ultimately to the Dinsdale Personal Care Home. Cremation has taken place, and interment at the Neepawa cemetery will occur at a future date.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 04, 2016