Funeral services for Helen Elizabeth Brinkman of Isabel, SD will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Isabel Community Center. Visitation will be held at Kesling Funeral Home, of Mobridge on December 13, 2024 from 5-7:00 pm with a time of sharing at 7:00 pm. Interment will be held at Hillview Cemetery, Isabel.

Helen Elizabeth Brinkman age 85, passed away on December 1, 2024, in Pierre S.D. in the care of her granddaughter and daughter.

Helen Elizabeth (Cross) Brinkman was born on July 21, 1939, in Lewis Kansas to Raymond and Irma (Foster) Cross.

Her parents moved from Kansas and bought a small farm in Isabel in 1955.  She met the love of her love of her life Delfred Brinkman in 1956 and was married on October 4, 1957.

On September 25th, 1971 they were blessed by an SD Adoption Agency with a 3 month old daughter, which was her pride and joy.

Helen taught in various rural schools, Buffalo and Isabel for a total of 42 years. She impacted a lot of students' lives with her puppet shows, Halloweens, Christmas concerts and her knack of making the best popsicles in town.

She was well known for her love of her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She loved Christmas and always had something for someone from homemade treats, or cookies.  Her grandchildren would always remember making a gingerbread house every year with her. She would make sure that anyone in the community had a good Holiday from presents to food.

She would stop what she was doing to make sure the card players were fed in the shop.

Her love of gardening grew over the years and so did her gardens.  She always made sure all her students would have a pumpkin to decorate at Halloween, each year she would etch the grandchildren's names on a pumpkin, so they all had their own pumpkins.  Also, she would raise enough pumpkins for her grandchildren to sell.

Mowing and lawn service during the summer months was her specialty when she wasn't gardening.   It was nothing for her to be out anytime of the day pushing the lawn mower for someone or weed eating.  She always involved her grandchildren in her lawn service for her to spend more time with them while they were growing up.

Her last wish was to always have a yellow Camaro.  And I bet right now she is driving the golden streets watching over everyone and making sure everyone will be safe and guided.

Helen is survived by her husband Delfred Brinkman, Daughter Cindy (Lee) Moseley, Grandchildren: Ashley (Jake) Michalson, Kali (Jamie)Timm, Dayton (Katrina) Wiedmer, Hanna (John) Martin and Jaxon Wiedmer. Also by her great grandchildren:  Axel, Kenleigh, Hudson, Chelsea, Laycee, Kyren, Brayden, Adalyn, Peter, Maverick, and Danielle. Nieces:  Tammy (John) Murray and Sandy (Brian) Lindstorm and Nephew: Kevin Cross.

Preceded in death by parents, Raymond and Irma Cross and brothers Clarence Cross and Howard (Leroy) Cross.