Helen Gleich Hauck, age 86 of East Helena

Helen Gleich Hauck

Helen Gleich Hauck was born August 12, 1926, and died February 25, 2013, at the age of 86.  She didn’t live to be 90, as was the plan, and dance with her nephews in celebration.  Nevertheless, she lived a long full life.  She was born in a farm house in Dodge, North Dakota, to Mary Ann Senger and John Gleich.  In the days before machines she and her sister, Eva, harvested  their  wheat  crops using hands, horses, and wagon.  They spoke only German at home and learned English at school.

She met her husband, Frank J. Hauck, at a dance.  They married after harvest on October 16, 1945.  After a stint in the army, they visited their good friends, Irene and Gene Trinka, in East Helena, Montana.  Frank loved Montana and moved Helen, daughter Jane, and son Dale to East Helena.  Their son Mark was born here.

They loved East Helena and the community here.  Main Street was lively and many Saturday nights were spent dancing with friends and family.  She was a waitress at the U & I Café and Husky Truck Stop as well as a homemaker.  She dearly loved their 8 years of retirement as snowbirds in Yuma, Arizona.

Helen was daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother.  No one left her house hungry.  She loved to crochet, bake, and cook.  We remember well her apple pies and BBQ ribs.  Holy Cross Traditional Catholic Church and SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church were an important part of her life.  When low on strength she would watch Mass on TV.  We thank her good friend, Bob Miller, for bringing her Holy Communion and conversation.  We thank St. Peter’s Hospice for their loving kindnesses.

One of Helen’s last wishes was to die at home.  She did this, surrounded by the many who loved her.  She had a twinkle in her eye right up to the morning she died.  Our comfort is that she will see God and her loved ones now.  We will see her again, in the blink of an eye.

She leaves behind many people:  her three brothers, Anton (MaryLou) Gleich, Pius (Sandy) Gleich, and James (Dixie) Gleich, and one sister, Frances (Ed) Riedl.  Her three children, Jane Hauck and husband Doug Backeberg, Dale (Betty) Hauck, Mark (Debi) Hauck.  Her grandchildren, Shadd Hauck, Travis Hauck, Bree Hauck Green, Mandy Hauck Arnell, Boni Hauck, Sam Hauck, and Toby Hauck.  Her great grandchildren of 17 and ½.  Her beloved nieces and nephews.   Her good friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers (Fredrick and Daniel), sisters (Juliann Meyers and Eva Mischel) and children (Mary and John).

Visitation hours will begin at 12 p.m. Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Retz Funeral Home with a Vigil service starting at 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass is scheduled at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 12 p.m., with a small reception following Mass. Interment will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery. To offer a condolence to the family or share a memory of Helen, please visit below.

Service Schedule

Viewing

12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday February 28, 2013

Retz Funeral Home

315 East 6th Ave

Helena , Montana 59601

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Vigil

6:00 p.m.

Thursday February 28, 2013

Retz Funeral Home

315 East 6th Ave.

Helena , Montana 59601

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Mass of Christian Burial

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Friday March 1, 2013

Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church

120 West Riggs Street

East Helena , Montana 59635

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Reception

Following Mass

Friday March 1, 2013

Ss. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church

120 West Riggs Street

East Helena , Montana 59635

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Graveside Service

Approximately 2:30 p.m.

Friday March 1, 2013

St. Ann's Cemetery

East Helena , Montana 59635

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