Helen R. Prochaska was born July 7, 1912 to James and Marie (Cacek) Prochaska at Belvidere, South Dakota. She grew up and received all twelve years of education in the Belvidere School System.

She was united in marriage to Oliver Russell Collins June 28, 1930, in Philip, South Dakota, and to this union were born three children Joan, Shirley, and Edward.

They made their home on the Collins homestead seven miles north of Kadoka. In the early 1930’s, they moved into Kadoka. Helen then went to a Beautician school in Omaha, Nebraska and later owned and operated the first beauty shop in Kadoka (1936). Helen continued to operate her Salon until 1999 when she retired after sixty-three years. She bought a home in Kadoka in 1941, which was originally the first hospital in Kadoka and continued to live there throughout her lifetime until moving into the Kadoka Care Center in the year 2000.

Helen was best known for her talents and skills as a hairdresser. She was also an avid gardener and usually had a big garden of vegetables and a yard full of flowers. Among her other hobbies throughout her life were;

crocheting, embroidering, decorating and redecorating, sewing, cooking, music, dancing, reading and crossword puzzles.

Helen will live on in people’s memories for many reasons but the one most visible memory will be the flowers that she shared with people and there are many yards in Kadoka and vicinity that Helen’s flowers adorn. Many people can also say, "Helen gave me my first permanent, haircut, or hairdo."

Helen was a member of the Kadoka Presbyterian church, and, in the past, was very active and served on various boards in the Kadoka area.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter Shirley Friedman and her husband Robert "Sam" of Indianapolis, Indiana; eight grandchildren, Anita Cummings (Bob) of Wallace, Nebraska, Russ Friedman (Gail) of Red Bank, New Jersey, Michael Sexton (Judith) of La Vista, Nebraska, Michael Friedman of Indianapolis, Indiana, Terese Masuda (George) of Tokyo, Japan, Danette Oertel (Gary) of Keaau, Hawaii, Kevin Friedman (Lori) of Fountain Valley, California, and Rhonda Sexton-Scher (Scott) of Plano, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, Mitchell Cummings (Amber) and Ryan Cummings all of Wallace, Nebraska, Andrea Dilsaver (Jeff) of Grant, Nebraska, Dane and Kelsey Masuda of Tokyo, Japan, Abbey Friedman of Fountain Valley, California, Adam and Molly Sexton-Scher of Plano, Texas; one great-great-grandson, Keegan Cummings of Wallace, Nebraska; a brother Joe Prochaska of Rapid City, South Dakota; two sisters, Rose Rulon, of Newell, and Ann Eckert of Kadoka; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Russell (1967), Helen was preceded in death by a son, Edward Russell Collins (1934), a daughter Joan Sexton (1990), her parents, two brothers, Adolph and Emil Prochaska, and one sister Mary Beockman.

Memorial services were held Thursday, May 6 at 10:00 am at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka.

Interment was in the Kadoka Cemetery.

MEMORIAL SERVICE
10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004
Presbyterian Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

OFFICIATING
Pastor Gary McCubbin

MUSIC
Randi Oyan – Organist
Jill Eckert – Vocalist
"In The Garden"
"Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
Ruth McCubbin – Organist
Richard Perkins – Vocalist
"You’ll Never Walk Alone"

USHERS
Bob Eckert – Don DeVries

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota