Helen Dorothy Novlan

Helen Dorothy Novlan, 93, of Rushford, Minn., died on Saturday, April 11, 2021, at her home with her loved ones at her side.

Helen Dorothy Park was born on April 30, 1927, in Eveleth, Minn., to Walter and Olga (Salonen) Park. She grew up in Eveleth and graduated from Eveleth High School. She also graduated from Ritter’s Beauty School in St. Paul, Minn. On September 6, 1947, Helen was united in marriage to Stanley Novlan in Eveleth. Stanley died in 1987.

Helen owned and operated her own beauty salon in Rushford for over 50 years. Her favorite thing to do as a child was to play beauty operator. Helen loved to travel.  Her favorite destination was Hawaii. She enjoyed gardening, volunteering (including delivering Meals on Wheels with in the past few months), Helen loved her pet cat, Critter. One of the greatest highlights of her life was when Helen was named Mrs. Rushford alongside Doc Pete in 1995. One of her very favorite things to do was to spend Christmas with her loved ones. Helen said that she would most like to be remembered for “Just being me.”

Helen was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church since 1961. At church she was also a trustee and a member of the finance committee. Helen was affectionately known as the Mother Superior of St. Joseph’s. Helen started the Rushford American Legion Auxiliary Post 94 in 1962, of which she was president and a board member.

The family prefers memorials directed to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or to Rushford–Peterson FFA and may be mailed in care of the Helen Novlan family to Hoff Funeral Home, PO Box 625, Rushford, Minn. 55971.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Stanley, and niece, Nancy Jones.

She is survived by her sister Ruth Johnson, nephews and nieces: Charles (Barb) Durham, Jackie Kindsvater, Steve and Edith Novak, CeCe Novlan, Karren Robinson, Shirley and Mike Tanko, and Nancy and Marc Sager; a nephew-in-law, Jerry Jones; and her chosen family: Andrea Konetchy, Melisa and Jed Kinneberg and their children Julisa and Charlie, who named Helen “Grandma Henner”; and by many great-anieces and nephews.  

There will be a Funeral Mass for Helen at 11 a.m. on April 24, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rushford, with the Reverend Thomas Melvin officiating. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on April 23, at Hoff Funeral Home in Rushford and one hour prior to the Mass on the 24th at the church.

Please leave a memory of Helen and sign her online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.