Helen Kiyo Sauer, 93, died February 22, 2022.
She was born in Ashikaga, Japan, on February 20,1929 to Tasu and Ushitaro Sugai. She met and married SSG Richard (Dick) Sauer while serving as a translator for the U.S. Army in Camp Drew, Japan in 1952. Their son, Robert was born in Japan. The family later moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and then Washington, DC where Helen and Dick worked for the Dept. of Transportation. After retirement Helen moved to Minnesota to be closer to family.
She was an active member of the Mikaharu-Kai Japanese Dance Group and had many friends in the Japanese-American community of the Twin Cities. She also worked as a bilingual customer support volunteer at the MSP airport.
Helen is survived by daughter-in-law, Rita Sauer; special niece, Jennifer Sauer, and many nieces & nephews in America and Japan. Preceded in death by husband, Richard; son, Robert; granddaughter, Nicole as well as all her siblings.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 18, 2022 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Prior Lake at 16400 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake. V isitation will start at 11:00 a.m. with Mass at 12:00 p.m.
Friends may join the mass via live streaming by visiting http://stmichael-pl.org and clicking on the Mass and Services link. Memorials preferred to Hiroko’s Heart, www.hirokosheart.com .
