Helen Margeurite (Wilson) Kroker
November 30, 1938 – August 15, 2025
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Helen on August 15, 2025, at the Oyen Auxiliary, at the age of 86. She was the eldest of three children and the last surviving among her siblings.
Helen was born in Bentley, Alberta, on November 30, 1938, to John Edgar (Ed) and Lea Blanche (née Lemire) Wilson, and was raised on their family farm near New Brigden, Alberta. As a child, she enjoyed school, playing on the family farm with her siblings and cousins, especially her cousin Milton Holmes, and attending social gatherings in New Brigden with friends and family. She lived on the farm until she moved to Calgary to study education, graduating in 1959. That fall, she returned home and began working as a teacher in the New Brigden area.
While working and attending neighbouring community social events, Helen met Henry Kroker, and they were married on July 6, 1959, in Consort, Alberta. The newlyweds bought a farm near Sedalia, Alberta, and started their life together. On their family farm, Helen and Henry raised three children, who were the lights of her life: Laurel, Glenn, and Gary.
In 1995, after more than thirty fulfilling years working and living on the farm, Helen and Henry retired to Oyen, Alberta. There, she enjoyed thirty wonderful years of cooking large dinners, canning and making jams and jellies as gifts for passersby, visiting friends and family, and caring for her grandchildren. Her open-door policy welcomed friends and family into her home, always ensuring there was food on the table and ears ready to listen. Helen’s smile, laughter, humour, and kindness brightened every room, making her the sweetest wife, mom, grandma, aunt, niece, cousin, and best friend to so many.
Helen most enjoyed playing cards, curling, golfing, crocheting, camping, travelling, cooking, visiting with friends, attending family gatherings, and caring for her family. She spent hours watching curling and listening to old-time, Irish, and Gospel music with her husband, Henry. Helen was a dedicated volunteer who devoted her time to her church and community. Nothing brought her greater joy than visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, hearing about their lives, and teaching them how to make family recipes.
The memories of helping Grandma cook chicken noodle soup, fat noodles, pierogis, pistachio dessert, or even a simple ham salad sandwich will never be forgotten, nor will their taste escape our tongues – because she added one essential ingredient: her pure love. She will always be remembered for her unconditional and self-giving love that her family and friends cherished.
Helen’s legacy of love lives on through her devoted family: her husband and best friend of more than 66 years, Henry; daughter Laurel (Patrick) Bennett; son Glenn (Loralee) Kroker; son Gary (Patti) Kroker; grandchildren Mathew (Penelope) Bennett, Ryan (Vanessa) Bennett, Hollee (Jay) Fornal, Morgan (Jared) Carroll, Michela (Tate) Kroker, and Joshua Kroker; great-grandchildren Blair, Lily, and Riley Bennett, Nolan Bennett, Emery and Ellea Fornal, and Isabelle Carroll. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of good friends.
Helen was predeceased by her father, Edgar, on May 30, 1960; her mother, Lea, on August 30, 2006; her sister, Yvonne, on April 12, 2003; and her brother, Robert, on April 5, 2019.
Memorial tributes may be directed to Oyen and District Health Care Foundation, Box 1, Oyen, AB, T0J 2J0, Directed to the Resident and Family Council.
To leave messages of condolence, please visit ofsmacleans.com
Funeral Service took place on Thursday August 21, 2025 at the Sedalia Church with Darrel Durksen officiating.
Funeral arrangements in care of MacLean's Funeral Home, Oyen, Alberta.