Helen Mihills Gabbert, 93, Dickinson, died Friday, December 19, 2014 at CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickinson following a brief illness. Helen’s funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the United Methodist Church, Dickinson, with Rev. Dick Rinearson officiating. Burial will take place at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, S.D. Visitation will be on Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Helen Gravatt was born to Roy and Olga (Stensbol) Gravatt in Chamberlain, S.D., on May 4, 1921. She grew up in small towns throughout South Dakota before graduating from Rapid City (S.D.) High School in 1942.

That same year, Helen married Don Scheiferstein and a son, Donald Ray, was born. Don passed away in 1946. In 1947, she married Archie Mihills and their daughter, Catherine (Kitty), was born. In 1953, the family moved to Wall, S.D., where they owned Wall Electric until Archie’s death in 1973.

She moved to Dickinson to be near Kitty’s family in October 1979, married George Gabbert on New Year’s Eve 1980 and remained together until his death in 1990.
In Wall, Helen was very active in the community — working various jobs, including grocery store clerk and Gamble Store clerk, waitress, motel manager, day care provider, and was very involved in the local Methodist Church, the American Legion Auxiliary and the local theatre group, the Wall Street Players. She was a master cake decorator, seamstress and community supporter. When she moved to Dickinson, she helped open the new Herberger’s store, working there until her first of three “retirements.”

After George’s death, she went to work as a people greeter at Walmart and later in its garden center. She loved welcoming every child to the store with a smiley face sticker, but the biggest joy in her time with Walmart was at Christmas when she got to play the role of Mrs. Santa. After retiring from Walmart once, at age 80, she decided working at the new Super Walmart might be fun. At 85, she went back to work once again as a people greeter. After a few months, she saw the need for retirement once again.

Helen was a member of the Dickinson United Methodist Church, where she was active in all areas of the church, including UMW, Altar Guild and Bible Study. Her faith was always a very important part of her life. She was also a member of the Flaming Ladies Red Hat Society.

She moved to St. Luke’s Home in April 2013 while dealing with losing her sight and ability to walk. She and her family were so grateful for the loving care given to her by the staff there.

Helen was preceded in death by her three husbands, her parents and two brothers, Jack and John Gravatt.

She leaves to mourn her son, Don (Alva) Scheiferstein, Dickinson, and daughter, Kitty (Leon) Monke, Regent; her sister, DoraMae Jensen, Escalon, Calif.; four stepchildren, Georgia (Barry) Fisher, Dickinson; Donna Nupen, Longmont, Colo.; Bill (Barb) Gabbert, Moorhead, Minn., and Scott Gabbert, Omaha, Neb.; five grandchildren, Scott (Laurie) Monke, New England; Jason (Jesse) Monke, Delano, Minn.; and Dustin (Sarah) Monke, Dickinson; Dana (Aaron) Slate, Modesto, Calif., and Donnie (Sarina) Scheiferstein, Modesto, Calif.; 13 great-grandchildren, Megan and McKenna Monke; Aiden and Halyn Monke; Nathan, Jordan, Tyler, Brennan and Ashley Slate; and Dakota, Paige, Rowan and DJ Scheiferstein; nine step-grandchildren, 10 step-great-grandchildren, her sisters-in-law, Blanch Mihills, Donna Gravatt, Doreen Gabbert and Vivian Gabbert, and several nieces, nephews and friends who were very dear to her heart.