Helen Louise Grand (Hoskin), age 77, went to be with the Lord on February 28, 2008, with her loving husband, Paul Grand, at her side. Helen was born in Hand County, South Dakota, to Hilan and Hazel Hoskin. She had an older sister Myrtle (Block), an older brother Clinton, and a younger sister Betty.
Her family moved to Malung, Minnesota, where she attended grade school a ¼ mile from her home. She attended Roseau High School and graduated in 1948.
She attended one year of Teacher Normal Training in Thief River Falls.
She married her high school sweetheart, Paul Grand, on Nov. 24, 1949, at the Covenant Church in Roseau. She taught 4th/5th grade at the Ross School the 1949-1950 school year. Paul and Helen had three children: Paula Rae born in 1950, Carol Louise born in 1951, and Ronald Jerome born in 1955. In 1951, Paul went to work with the Minnesota Highway Department in Baudette. The family lived in mobile homes and moved to wherever Paul worked: Big Falls, Northome, Park Rapids, Hallock, and Bemidji. In 1958 they moved to Thief River Falls and purchased their first home. Helen taught school in Angus and Brooks. In 1965, they moved to Bemidji. Helen went back to college in 1966 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1967. She taught at Bemidji State College Lab School and earned her Masters Degree in Special Education.
After 30 years in education, Helen retired with Paul on Dec. 24, 1986. This gave them the opportunity to spend 10 years traveling south for the winter by motor home. In 1996, they sold their family home in Bemidji and purchased a condo. They also built a home in Bullhead city, Arizona, where they spent the winter months for the past 22 years. They are both members of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Bemidji and attended the Hope United Methodist Church in Bullhead City in the winter.
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Helen was preceded in death by her parents, brother and two sisters. She is survived by Paul, her husband of 58 years; her daughter Paula Rae Rynders (Eldon) of Forest Falls, California; her daughter Carol Louise Ryan (Greg) of El Cajon, California; and son Ronald Jerome Grand (Jill) of St. Cloud, Minnesota; seven grandchildren: Jeremy (Tara Jo), Jennifer (Jon), Tim (Tara Pat), Sean, John (Queen), Michael, and Steven; five great grandchildren: Alex, Aubrey, Corin, Evan and Vivian.
There will be a celebration of her life at Hope United Methodist Church in Bullhead City, Arizona, March 9th, 2008, at 5 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Bemidji, Minnesota, this summer.
Please send any cards or letters to her husband, Paul Grand, c/o P.O. Box 8705, Fort Mohave, AZ 86427.
