STURGIS - Helen L. Richards, 105, Sturgis, died Thursday, August 16, 2007, at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center.

Helen was born November 15, 1901, to W.J. "Jake" and Myrtle (Gilmore) Philippar in Corning, Iowa. In 1906 she came to South Dakota with her parents and her younger brother, Harold. They homesteaded near Opal and lived in a sod house until moving to Tama, where her twin siblings, Dorothy and Donald, were born. In 1910 the family moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, returning to South Dakota in 1915 to live in Rapid City before moving to a farm south of Sturgis.

Helen graduated from Rapid City High School, attended Spearfish Normal School and taught rural school in Meade County. Rev. C. D. Erskine officiated at her marriage to Eugene W. "Gene" Richards on September 8, 1921, at the Presbyterian manse in Sturgis. Helen and Gene ranched north of Bear Butte before moving to a ranch at Red Owl where they were living when their son, David Allan, was born. In 1930, they purchased a ranch at Volunteer on the Belle Fourche River where they farmed and raised cattle for 37 years. David and his wife, Eleanor (Tanquist), continue to operate the family ranch.

In 1967, Helen and Gene moved to Sturgis and spent the winter months in Brownsville, Texas. They enjoyed singing in the choir at the First Presbyterian Church and square dancing in the Black Hills and in Texas. Gene died in 1978. A gifted artist, Helen created watercolors, lithographs, and oil paintings. She loved painting Bear Butte, antelope, birds, wild life, and the open prairies. She received many awards for her work, which was exhibited at art shows, the Sturgis Public Library, the Meade County Fair, and the Sturgis Senior Center. She continued to paint until 1998 when her eyesight was failing.

She was a founding member of HIMMEL, a group of Sturgis artists and the Volunteer Extension Club. Helen was past president of the Meade County Extension Clubs. She belonged to the South Sturgis Extension Club, Presbyterian Women, D.A.R, Eastern Star, and sang in the chorus at the Senior Center for nearly 25 years.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; grandson, Arthur Allan Richards; her parents; two brothers, Harold and Donald Philippar; and one sister, Dorothy Northcutt.

Survivors include her son, David (Eleanor); three granddaughters, Marjorie (Mark) Hjelmfelt, Rapid City, Sandy (Bob) Priester, Denver, and Amy Richards, Pierre; and three great-grandchildren, Chris, Stephanie, and Sam Hjelmfelt, Rapid City.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 18, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. A private family burial will be held later at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Memorials have been established to the Meade County Senior Center, the Sturgis First Presbyterian Church, and the Sturgis Crisis Intervention Shelter Service.