Helen C. Link

Helen Catherine Link, age 87, of Shakopee passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 833 South Marschall Road, Shakopee. On Monday, September 9, 2024 visitation from 10-10:45 am along with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am, at the Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne (Church of St. Mary) 535 Lewis Street, Shakopee.  The service can be livestreamed at the following link: Helen Link Service. Father Michael Becker will preside, with her grandsons as pallbearers. She will be laid to rest at Shakopee Catholic Cemetery, alongside her husband Cletus.

There were two core values in Helen’s life … faith and family. She was born on August 10, 1937, to Peter and Rose (Williams) Pass. Born and raised on a family farm in Chaska, MN, Helen was the fifth of eight children. Her strong faith was nurtured and formed as a young child, with the guidance of her parents. She attended Guardian Angels Catholic School, where she was a proud high school graduate. During Helen’s high school years, she worked at the Tri-Y Drive In. She was queen of making the onion rings and on occasion was entrusted with taking home the cash from the day.

It was with the persistence of both parties that Helen and Cletus J. Link finally connected and started dating. Their love and commitment grew and on February 16, 1957, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, they were united in Holy Matrimony. Helen and Clete settled in Shakopee, where they raised their six children, Chris, Peter, Mary, Julie, John and Patrick. As the children grew, she passed onto her family the importance of having a strong faith and dedicated her life to being the best wife, mother and grandma. After grandchildren came along one of the family’s accomplishments was building a lake home on Long Lake in Longville, MN. Weekends were filled with creating special memories they will treasure for decades.

Helen was a pillar in the community not only in her faith, but in supporting her church and community by volunteering. She spent countless years, offering time at the welcome desk at St. Francis Regional Medical Center. Helen relished sharing her faith by teaching CCD classes, volunteering in the library and lunch room at Shakopee Area Catholic School and singing in the choir. Helen also gave time counting the weekend collection, serving others at funeral luncheons and assuring her beloved Church of St. Mary remained beautified to its fullest throughout the years. She set a great example to her family of how to volunteer, help and give back within the community.

In the mid 1970’s, Helen secured a realtor license by going to classes in the evenings and became successful running Link Realty. She not only sold the homes Clete built but other existing ones as well. This was in addition to doing all the bookwork for the businesses they established and taking care of the home.

Helen loved to golf, socialize and travel with Clete when she could talk him in to it. After he passed she traveled much more, touring Europe with daughter Julie and her granddaughter, Rachel and enjoyed many trips to Grand Cayman. She also loved walking and socializing at Dakota Sport and Fitness.

Faith and family allowed Helen to be a wonderful servant to her Lord. These resonated everyday of her life and she began every morning with prayer. She was so beloved by everyone that knew her. Helen had a kind heart, she was approachable, honest, supportive and very humble. She was respected, classy, down to earth and she delighted in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Left to carry on Helen’s mission and work is her beloved family, children Chris (Ken) Wilken, Peter (Jean) Link, Julie (Brian) Welch, John (Theresa) Link, Patrick (Nancy) Link; grandchildren, Madyson (Jonathon Paquette) Johnson, James (Jessica) Link, Ryan (Ashley Kramer) Link, Chelsea (Tony) Schmit, Rachel (Jack) Bjornberg, Jennifer (Joe) Sames, Mollie (Christian) Weeks, Cora Link, Joe (Hannah Larsen)Link, Bridget (John Karl) Link; great grandchildren, Jackson and Wyatt Link, Grady and Saylor Link, Darla Jo, Leander and Ryker Schmit, Sammy and Joey Sames, siblings, Rose Raser, Anne Simons; sisters in laws Cathy Pass, Lorraine Link and Marlene Link. Along with many nieces, nephews and loving friends.

Welcoming Helen home to eternal peace is husband of 50 years, Cletus; daughter Mary (David) Teich; parents Peter and Rose Pass, siblings Bernice (Francis) Strobel, Angie (Norbert) Rogers, William (Aggie) Pass, John Pass, Arthur (Betty) Pass; brothers in law, Walter Raser, Denis Simons and many Link family members.