Maureen was born August 12, 1918, at Newell, SD, to William and Mari (Heying) Patterson. Because her Irish ancestors objected to any name but Maureen, she spent most of her life answering to that name. Maureen grew up on the Squaw Butte Ranch her parents homesteaded. The quarter section by her parents was added to the homestead land of their neighbors who soon deserted their 160 acres in Western South Dakota. It would not generate enough money to furnish even poverty level living.

In the mid-twenties, the snow was deep and there were no roads and therefore transportation was on foot or horseback. Many rural kids, including the Patterson's, were taught at home. School away from the house began in the fourth grade for Maureen at Squaw Butte School. She graduated from there in 1932 and went on, one year to Newell, and then three years at St. Martin's Academy where she graduated in 1936.

Money was scarce but with beginning help from one of her uncles, she enrolled at the University of Wyoming. She worked and went to school year round, and upon graduation, she taught secondary education in Lusk, WY. She also worked as Home Director for Food Safety Administration in Douglas and Basin, WY. During World War II, Maureen operated and supervised food operations for imported hard labor. In 1957, she returned to South Dakota where she worked on the ranch for a year and then on to Extension in Meade, Ziebach, and Cheyenne River for fifteen years.

In 1958, Maureen married Art Vig and she spent the rest of her life on the ranch.

Helen "Maureen" Vig, 95, Mud Butte, died on Monday, March 17, 2014, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

She is survived by sons, Lester Vig, Dupree, and Tim Vig, Mud Butte; daughters, Maryann Vig, Rapid City, and Barbara Harry, Texas; two sisters,
Joan Craig, Spearfish, and Kathryn Dennis, Rapid City; sister-in-law, Martha Patterson, Sturgis; seventeen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are very special friends and neighbors, Carol and Myron Weiss.

Maureen is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant sister; brother, Bill Patterson; sister, Patricia Staley; and brother-in-laws, Harry Craig, and Wayne Dennis.

A memorial has been established in Maureen's name at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mud Butte, SD.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.