Obituary for Helen Teal (Alcock)
Helen Irene Teal (Alcock) nee Borsheim
December 1921 - May 2020
Helen was born in the farm home seven miles South of Venn on December 23, 1921, and passed away at Jubilee Court in Watrous on May 21st, 2020, her home for the last year. She's survived by her three children, Marci, Tom (Sue), Jim (Helen); her eleven grandchildren, Jordin (Kitty), Jonathan (Amanda), Belle (Vincent), Rose (Tetsu), Graham (Alysha), Mackenzie, Katie and Alexander; husband Kelly's children, Joel Teal (Doreen), Terry Wilson, and their children, Jeff (Lorena), Bradley, and Mark (Carrie) and 14 great grand children. Helen was predeceased by her husband John Alcock, daughter Janie, husband Kelly Teal, brother Leslie, sister Lenora, and son-in-law, Bryan Wilson.
Helen loved her family and friends. Throughout her life she enjoyed socializing and dancing - especially at Danceland on Manitou Beach, where she and her husband John were part-owners for a time and also with her second husband Kelly Teal. They also held big dinner parties and were avid bridge players. Helen was involved with All Saints Anglican Church in Watrous where she also taught Sunday school.
Helen was well-known for her wonderful sense of humor, coffee and cake in the afternoon, volunteering at church for the many activities involved there, love of travel, beautiful backyard with dozens of potted plants, her delicious meals for which there was rarely a recipe, her moves on the dance floor, and her love of sharing stories from her youth.
Helen grew up on a farm south of Venn, SK. At 17 when she finished school she took a hairdressing course in Yorkton with her friend Mary where they opened up their own hairdressing business. During WWII in 1942, both she and Mary volunteered to go east to work in the war effort where she worked as a Bomb Girl in the munitions factory in Ajax, Ont. She wasn't there long when she returned to the farm in 1943 to help her brother Leslie as their mother Anna Borsheim (nee Rorstrand) had died. She cooked and cleaned inside the house, and outside, she worked in the fields and milked the cows.
At age 22 she married John Alcock, and they moved to what is now the Alcock farm just outside of Watrous. Over the next 10 years, they had 4 children before John died in a tragic accident in August 1953. Helen stayed on at the farm and raised 4 children on her own for the next 14 years. She made sure each child got to choir practice, Sunday school, hockey, dance, curling, birthday parties, and whatever else was going on- driving up and down the dusty country roads, rain or shine.
In 1967 Helen married Harold Vernon“Kelly” Teal and moved to Saskatoon with Marci, Janie, Tom and Jim, and Kelly's two children, Joel and Terry - 6 teenagers! The following year, tragedy struck again when they lost Janie to cancer, a blow from which Helen never really recovered. In typical Helen style, she carried on busying herself with church, and got a job at Bonita Draperies, making many friends there. When Bonita closed, she found a position at Marguerite's, a lovely boutique in the Bessborough Hotel. At Marguerite's, she could indulge her flair for fashion. It was always a wonder to those at Bridge, or Church, or Marguerite's to see what she would be wearing that day. For many years she volunteered at Hands On Ministry providing meals for children. Helen was devoted to St. Stephen's Church, church activities and the many friends she made there over the years.
Helen's warm spirit and love of life will be deeply missed by all her family and friends who love her dearly.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Helen’s name to All saints Anglican Church, Watrous.
December 1921 - May 2020
Helen was born in the farm home seven miles South of Venn on December 23, 1921, and passed away at Jubilee Court in Watrous on May 21st, 2020, her home for the last year. She's survived by her three children, Marci, Tom (Sue), Jim (Helen); her eleven grandchildren, Jordin (Kitty), Jonathan (Amanda), Belle (Vincent), Rose (Tetsu), Graham (Alysha), Mackenzie, Katie and Alexander; husband Kelly's children, Joel Teal (Doreen), Terry Wilson, and their children, Jeff (Lorena), Bradley, and Mark (Carrie) and 14 great grand children. Helen was predeceased by her husband John Alcock, daughter Janie, husband Kelly Teal, brother Leslie, sister Lenora, and son-in-law, Bryan Wilson.
Helen loved her family and friends. Throughout her life she enjoyed socializing and dancing - especially at Danceland on Manitou Beach, where she and her husband John were part-owners for a time and also with her second husband Kelly Teal. They also held big dinner parties and were avid bridge players. Helen was involved with All Saints Anglican Church in Watrous where she also taught Sunday school.
Helen was well-known for her wonderful sense of humor, coffee and cake in the afternoon, volunteering at church for the many activities involved there, love of travel, beautiful backyard with dozens of potted plants, her delicious meals for which there was rarely a recipe, her moves on the dance floor, and her love of sharing stories from her youth.
Helen grew up on a farm south of Venn, SK. At 17 when she finished school she took a hairdressing course in Yorkton with her friend Mary where they opened up their own hairdressing business. During WWII in 1942, both she and Mary volunteered to go east to work in the war effort where she worked as a Bomb Girl in the munitions factory in Ajax, Ont. She wasn't there long when she returned to the farm in 1943 to help her brother Leslie as their mother Anna Borsheim (nee Rorstrand) had died. She cooked and cleaned inside the house, and outside, she worked in the fields and milked the cows.
At age 22 she married John Alcock, and they moved to what is now the Alcock farm just outside of Watrous. Over the next 10 years, they had 4 children before John died in a tragic accident in August 1953. Helen stayed on at the farm and raised 4 children on her own for the next 14 years. She made sure each child got to choir practice, Sunday school, hockey, dance, curling, birthday parties, and whatever else was going on- driving up and down the dusty country roads, rain or shine.
In 1967 Helen married Harold Vernon“Kelly” Teal and moved to Saskatoon with Marci, Janie, Tom and Jim, and Kelly's two children, Joel and Terry - 6 teenagers! The following year, tragedy struck again when they lost Janie to cancer, a blow from which Helen never really recovered. In typical Helen style, she carried on busying herself with church, and got a job at Bonita Draperies, making many friends there. When Bonita closed, she found a position at Marguerite's, a lovely boutique in the Bessborough Hotel. At Marguerite's, she could indulge her flair for fashion. It was always a wonder to those at Bridge, or Church, or Marguerite's to see what she would be wearing that day. For many years she volunteered at Hands On Ministry providing meals for children. Helen was devoted to St. Stephen's Church, church activities and the many friends she made there over the years.
Helen's warm spirit and love of life will be deeply missed by all her family and friends who love her dearly.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Helen’s name to All saints Anglican Church, Watrous.