Helen Agnes Holzer

Helen Agnes Holzer, age 89, of Anaconda, Montana, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2024. She spent her final days surrounded by the love of her family.

Helen was born on the family farm on September 17, 1935, in Selfridge, North Dakota to Balzer and Margaret Feist. She grew up on the farm with her parents and siblings. At an early age Helen developed a love for sewing, cooking, and baking. In high school she was studious, a member of the girls’ basketball team, and sang in the church choir.

Soon after moving to Bismarck, she met Adam Holzer, they were married and began planning a life together. They relocated to Anaconda where Adam found work with the Anaconda Company. They lived in a small apartment until they could buy what would become the family home on North Cherry Street. As the family grew Helen and Adam took on the adventure of adding on to their home and even digging out a basement to have a “rec-room” for their children to “hang-out.”  Most of this work was done by themselves, friends, and neighbors.

In addition to raising four children and her beloved dog Holly, Helen was a master homemaker. She loved decorating her home inside and out, keeping it spotless, cooking meals and baking goodies, all while making it look effortless. She was an accomplished seamstress and often sewed late into the night. She did embroidery, made clothes, prom dresses, baby quilts, teddy bears from fur coats and so much more. She was known for the wide variety of Christmas treats including hand-dipped chocolates that she made from scratch. You were truly fortunate if you were on her Christmas Cookie list, and you could always expect a variety of home baked treats when visiting grandma Helen.

Helen enjoyed spending time with family, attending Mass, participating in community events, traveling,  playing cards, going out to dinner, and dancing. She loved to shop, had impeccable taste, always looked pristine, and was a natural at finding bargains. She enjoyed collecting dolls and had an impressive collection.

Although Helen never got the opportunity to pursue a career in nursing, she worked for years as a Nurse’s aide at Saint Ann’s hospital and as a Psychiatric Aide at Warm Springs State Hospital. Both positions allowed her to apply her passion for caring for people; she also helped many elderly friends in Anaconda, including taking Aunt Ceil to the grocery store every Friday.   Helen facilitated moving her parents from North Dakota to Anaconda in their elderly years and was a meticulous caregiver for them.

After 50 years of marriage, Helen lost her beloved husband Adam in 2005.  She continued to live at the family home and kept busy with sewing, crafts, cooking, baking, cleaning, and sweeping of the endless pine needles from the great blue spruce.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Adam, her loving dog Holly, her parents, Margaret and Balzer Feist, her twin brother Joseph, brother Raymond, sister Anna, her special aunt Anna Marie Kraft, her grandparents Carl and Nympha Schreiner and August and Elizabeth Feist.

Helen leaves behind four children, Darcy (Mike) Clifford, Darla (Tim) Bartholomew, Deanna (Robb) Blotkamp, and Daryl (Valerie) Holzer.  Grandchildren, Shane (Korin) Clifford, Carli (Kent) Boos, Justin (Lindsay) Bartholomew, Jamie Chisholm (Rusty), Ericka Bigsby, Nicole (Matt) Erickson, Nathan Holzer, and Joseph Holzer.  Greatgrandchildren, Peter, Anna, Cruze, Madison, Mya, Grady, Colten, Dillon, Easton, and Zoey. Her brother Stan Feist (Kelly), her brother Leo (Cynthia) Feist, her sisters-in-law Diane Feist, Linda Feist, Emma Holzer, Mary Holzer, and many dear nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend thanks to Father McCallum, Bonnie Schaefer, RN, for her excellent and compassionate nursing care, and the staff and volunteers at both the Anaconda Catholic Community and New Horizons.

Services will include a vigil on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home; the funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 10:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda, Montana.  Memorial donations may be made to the Anaconda Catholic Community at 217 W. Pennsylvania Ave, Anaconda, MT 59711.

Helen will be missed by her friends and family and all those whose lives she touched. Her witty charm and enduring style will remain forever.

Please visit the sidebar to offer condolences or share a memory of Helen.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Helen and her family.