Helen M. Dregne

Helen M. Dregne, age 100 of Viroqua, died Saturday, June 7, 2008. Helen M. Dregne, age 100 years, passed away on June 7, 2008, at the home of her daughter in Homewood, Illinois; she had congestive heart failure. She was born on March 15, 1908, one of the eleven children of Albert and Louisa (Olson) Mikkelson, Norwegian immigrants to the Gays Mills-Soldiers Grove area where they cleared land for a bluff-top farm. All of them preceded her in death: her parents, sisters Minnie Thompson, Benetta Turben, and Alma Thompson, and brothers Tilman, Norman, Clarence, Alfred, Otto, Oscar, and Lawrence. Her husband, Clarence J. Dregne, died in 1976, and daughter, Ardelle Peart, in 1982. Survivors include her daughter, Lenore (Theodore) Cunningham of Homewood, Illinois, and Ardelle and Richard Pearts sons, Steven, now living and working in the state of Washington, and Robert and his wife, Laura, who live in Plainfield, Illinois, as well as sister-in-law, Alice, widow of Helens brother Alfred, and many nieces and nephews. Helen attended Gays Mills High School for one year and was confirmed in Mt. Sterling church. She and her family became members of Franklin church and her daughters were confirmed in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Viroqua. She received awards for her volunteer work with the mealsite at the Viroqua Dairy. Her church work included membership in one of the Franklin ladies circles to raise money for the church and missions. When newly married in 1928, the couple farmed land owned by Knute Dregne on Stump Ridge for about ten years and in 1939 purchased a farm on Maple Dale Road east of Viroqua where they lived and worked for about 15 years. For retirement, they moved into a new house built on a plot of land overlooking the farm. When Clarence passed away, Helen moved to the city and became one of the initial residents of the "high-rise" named for Phil Bigley but now known as Parkview Manor; she lived there for 25 years until she became completely blind and decided to live with her daughter. A house addition had been designed and built for her 10 years earlier in Homewood, Ill. She enjoyed her friends at Parkview and stayed there as long as she could. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Franklin Lutheran Church, rural Soldiers Grove. Pastor Pete Beckstrand will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home, 123 W. Decker (Hwy 56) in Viroqua. Friends may also call on Wednesday after 12:00 noon at the church. Memorials are preferred toward the cure of breast cancer. The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.