Helen Mostad

Helen Elizabeth Hansen Mostad peacefully entered her heavenly home on October 27, 2025, at 94.

She was born in Sleepy Eye, MN, on June 17, 1931, to her Danish immigrant parents Adolf and Elizabeth Hansen.

At three years of age, her family moved to Merced, CA, where there was a Danish community/church and Helen spent her school years there.

She attended Whitworth Presbyterian College in Washington for a year then attended St. Francis Nursing School where she graduated and became a nurse. She returned to Merced, CA, where she began her nursing career at Mercy Hospital.

She met her husband, Dewey Dwain Mostad, at Lake Yosemite in Merced. He was a young Air Force man who was stationed at Castle Air Force Base.

They married on December 10, 1954, at the age of 23. In 1956, their first child, Christopher Paul was born at Mercy Hospital.

They moved to Mather Air Force Base for more training. In 1958, their daughter, Holly Ann, was born.

Then it was a long trek across the states to Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH, where Laura Jean was born in 1959.

After three years, they moved to California at Beale Air Force Base where they stayed for five years. She was also honored to receive the Outstanding Young Woman of America award in 1965.

Their next assignment was two years at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, where Helen worked as a school nurse and a public health nurse.

In 1970, they returned to Beale Air Force Base and moved nearby to Yuba City, CA, where she and her husband retired and lived for the next 40 years.

It was during these years that yearly traditions were established. With the help of her brother, Paul, and his wife, Dora, they launched the infamous Turkey Bowl of 1970, that included great food, a football game, and an award ceremony.

Helen has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Ashley, Dustin, with River, Maren, Sloane, Scott, Jesika, Bryan, Andrew, Courtney, Sarah, Kayla, Darin, with Daxon, Landon, Jett, Emily, and Mike. They will carry on her legacy.

Helen was preceded in death by her mother; and her husband, Dewey, who passed away in 2019. They were married for 63 years.

There will be a celebration of life on January 31, 2025.