Helen Regina Baxter

Helen Regina Swensen was born in Chicago, IL on January 29, 1929 as the first born of identical twin sisters. Her twin was named Charlotte and they were the oldest of five siblings including Russell, Daniel, and Wendell, born to Thelma Sandeno Swensen and Raymond Swensen. Helen met her husband John Baxter, from Wamego, Kansas, when he was drafted into the Navy to serve in the Pacific during World War II and was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base near Chicago, IL. Their courtship was mainly by daily letters to and from during John's deployment on an LST with the US. When he returned stateside, they became engaged to be married; they both felt a calling to the mission field in Africa, but due to health reasons they had to change their desire to serve the Lord to service in the Parish Ministry. Helen finished highs school and John attended Bible School at Fergus Falls, MN at the Bible College there. They were married in Chicago on September 6, 1947. They lived for a time in Ottawa, IL where three of their children were born: Carol Ann in1948, Nancy Eline in 1949, and Russell William in 1952. The family moved to Minneapolis to attend Bible School and John completed his college degree and was a student at Luther Seminary in St. Paul until his ordination in May of 1965. Pastor Baxter and Helen lived in various parsonages and homes serving one, two, and three-church parishes in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota for 25 years. John served as Chaplain and Helen as his "assistant" to the Good Samaritan Home in Battle Lake, MN and In St. Croix Falls, WI. They lived together in Independent Living in Savage, MN. John passed to Heaven in 2014 and then Helen lived in Founders Ridge and then in Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington. John and Helen were further blessed with 23 Grandchildren, 37 Great Grandchildren, and 2 Great Great-Grandchildren. God is good. Helen loved gardening, painting, knitting and crocheting, reading, politics, cooking and baking, and above all else, studying The Word of God and talking about the Love of Jesus. John and Helen have five children; Carole Ann Walker who preceded her to Heaven in 2018 was married to Rev Holt Walker III and five children in Minneapolis, MN. Nancy Baxter- Losier lives in Bloomington, MN with her husband Davin (Dave) and they have six children. Their son Russ Baxter lives in rural Grafton, ND with his wife Donna Johnson Baxter and they have two children. Their daughter Ellen Baxter Cutsforth has seven children and lives in rural Eau Galle, WI with her husband Dean, who brought three children to their union. Their daughter Jacqueline Baxter lives in Colorado and has one child. Memorials may be given in Honor of both Rev John and Helen Baxter to Bethesda Lutheran Youth Ministry for Summer Bible Camp and Mission Trips.

Tributes

Helen Regina Baxter

January 26, 1929 - July 23, 2024

Tributes

Helen Regina Baxter

January 26, 1929 - July 23, 2024

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