Helen Louise Komes (Baldwin) was born on November 1, 1927 to Louis "Buck" Baldwin and Sophie Marie (Trosin) Baldwin in Vale, South Dakota. She was delivered at home, by mid wife Auntie Gear, in the rural Vale area. Helen was welcomed into the family by her big brother Herbert and older sister Edith.

The family moved around a lot to different farmsteads in and around the Vale and Red Owl area. Times were tough being raised in the "Dirty 30's." The family increased in size when baby brother Duane joined the family in Oct 1934. When she got older, she and Herb would herd sheep from Vale to Stoneville. They would ride horseback and sleep in a sheep wagon, until they got to Stoneville. Then they would stay in a run-down house there on the prairie. They guarded the flock at night from the coyotes. They both had a love of rock hunting. She would walk searching for Indian arrowheads and never found too many. Then Herb would walk right where she walked, and find all kinds of them! She attended rural grade school and high school in Vale, South Dakota.

When she was in her teenage years everybody went to Vale for the community dances. There she met a young man named Johnny Komes. It didn't take long for them to fall in love. So, at the young age of 18, they were married at the Bear Butte Valley rectory on March 3, 1946. They moved to the Komes homestead, established in 1904, north east of Sturgis. Her wedding dowry included two mules, some turkeys, some sheep and probably several barn cats! To this marriage three children were born, David in Nov 1948, Richard in May 1951 and Diane in June of 1953. As if she didn't have enough to do, she took on the task of being a mother. She was a great Mom to all of us. Through the years they fought many droughts, hail storms, grasshoppers and blizzards while making a living on the farm.

She was a hard working "cheap hired" hand and housewife and a great cook. Working alongside, with Johnny in the fields, she drove the swather or mower, racked hay, stacked hay, drove grain trucks, worked cattle and milked cows. They raised cattle, chickens and hogs. They were very proud of the nice herd of purebred Charolais cattle that they raised. When she wasn't in the fields or fixing fence, you could find her cooking, cleaning, sewing, crocheting, butchering chickens, gardening and canning. She spent many hours spraying the thistles in the pastures, trying to keep them in check. She took special pride in her yard and flower beds.

After Johnny's passing on December 28 1977, she would find love again in 1996. Helen would share her life for the next 20 years with longtime friend Ed Poss. Again, she continued to help Ed with the farming operations on both places. Ed had a condo in Sturgis on Baldwin Street. They traveled back and forth from the ranches and the condo for several years. They had many happy times at the condo. Ed passed away in February 2018. She continued living at the farm & the condo until January of 2020. She moved back to her farm and with some assistance from her children, and would remain there until July of 2024. She moved into assisted living facility in Sturgis at the age of 96. With the help of her family and friends she celebrated her 98th birthday on November 1, 2025.

The struggle of old age was a daily battle for her. She was a true fighter and a strong- willed woman. We could not ask more from the wonderful examples she has shared with us through the years. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren very much. A woman born and raised during the Dirty 30's and worked hard in farming and ranching her whole life. She showed us resilience and resourcefulness, and often unrecognized labor to ensure her family's survival. We are thankful and eternally grateful and blessed for having her in all our lives. May the Good Lord now grant her eternal rest and peace.

She is survived by her son David (Dianna) Komes of Rapid City, her daughter Diane Hallock of Sturgis, and daughter in-law Glenda (Komes) Winkler of Syracuse NE.

She was very proud to be grandmother to seven grandchildren Travis (Lesley) Chamberlain SD, Tyler (Erica) Hallock of Midland MI, Michelle (Komes) Kilby Hot Springs SD, Cal Komes Rapid City SD, Jeff (Crystal) Komes Rapid City SD, Rory (Amy) Godsell Newark OH, and Allen (Karen)Godsell of Piedmont.

She was blessed with twelve great grandchildren Hunter (Karlee) Hallock, Hallie (Ty) Burket, Karli (Jaelani) Kilby- Uthe, Aidan Komes, Taya, Teagan & Tatum Hallock, Kyle & Nathan Godsell and step great grandchildren Jory, Caylee and Fletcher.

She also got to welcome and hold her three great-great grandchildren Kynlee & Hoyt Hallock and Rayna Burket.

Proceeding her in death, her parents Louis & Sophie Baldwin, step mother Alpha Baldwin, her husband John P Komes, her son Richard Komes, her special companion Ed Poss, son in-law Brian Hallock, her two brothers and sister in-laws Herbert (Goldie)(Veora)Baldwin and Duane (Clara)(Janice) Baldwin, and her sister and brother in-law Edith (Jim) Palmer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the following:

· Sturgis Meals on Wheels

· Sturgis Animal Shelter

· Monument Home Health-Hospice

A special thanks to the staff of Dolan Creek and Aspen Grove Assisted Living and Monument Home Health-Hospice for making Mom as comfortable as possible.

The family extends a special thank you for your presence and condolences.

Please join us for fellowship at the church, following the burial.

Helen's funeral service will livestreamed at the following link. https://boxcast.tv/channel/ivoqsgka0mojjxjlmaea