Helen Josephine Werlinger passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on the evening of May 18, 2026, at Mapleview Memory Care. Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, May 21 at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N Second St, Bismarck. To view the service livestream, click the link provided ~ Helen. 

Visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave, Bismarck. A rosary/vigil service will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Burial will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

She was born Helen Josephine Wald on June 11, 1950 to Joe and Margaret Wald in Linton, one of 11 children. She grew up in the Wishek area and graduated from Wishek High School. She married Jerome Werlinger on April 24, 1970. Helen and Jerome have three children, Kory, Keith and Kari.

Helen kept busy throughout her career. She ran an in-home child-care, managed apartment buildings with her husband, and held different positions within the St. Alexius medical center. Her last employment prior to retirement was with Dan’s Supervalue.

Helen was one of the most joyful people you would ever meet, she always had a smile and an encouraging word to give. She loved being surrounded by people, especially her family. She brought so much joy, laughter and love to family gatherings and often started planning what she was going to wear weeks in advance. Helen was constantly busy, getting ready for a rummage sale, volunteering, going out with her sisters, or going to play cards, she always had to move. Her favorite way to move was to dance – polka was the preferred dance step, but any would do. Start playing music and her feet would start tapping. It was difficult to keep her in her seat. Once she became a Grandma, she was often busy with her grandsons, reading books, watching sports and being an all around cheerleader. Her grandsons, Ben and Andrew were the apple of her eye.

Helen was a bright ray of sunshine, she lit up a room with her smile, she was filled with happiness and joy. She was one of the most gentle and kind-hearted people we were all fortunate to know. Remembering Helen are her husband of 54 years Jerome, her children, Kory (Ann), Keith (Erica Perry) and Kari; grandsons, Ben and Andrew; sisters, Marge Wangen, Christine Freidig, Betty (Floyd) Fetzer, Viola (Elmer) Weigel, Irene (Monte) Felchle; her brothers, Joe (Sue) Wald and Steve (Nancy) Wald; brothers and sisters-in-laws along with many nieces and nephews. Waiting to dance a polka or two in heaven are her sisters, Mary, Emma, and Monica along with her parents, Joe and Margaret.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations the Alzheimer’s Association.