Helen Kennedy Grace was born on March 30. 1935 to Walter and Ethel (Soderstrom) Kennedy. She passed away in her home surrounded by her family on August 22. 2025.  She grew up on a farm northwest of Beresford with her older brothers Howard, Charles, and Robert.  She attended country school at Millbrook, and high school in Beresford.

After graduating, she set off to Chicago and entered nurses' training in West Suburban Hospital. While working as a nurse, she met her husband, Elliott Grace. They had one child, Elizabeth. With her husband's encouragement. she went back to school obtaining a Bachelor's degree in nursing from University of Illinois, Chicago, a Master's degree in psychiatric nursing from Loyola University of Chicago, and a PhD in sociology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She became a professor of nursing and eventually Dean of the College of Nursing at University of Illinois, Chicago. She served in that position for many years. She helped nurture a love of nursing and a dedication to the field in many young people, including her beloved niece, Laurel.

In 1982, she accepted a position as a program director in health grant-making for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. She helped oversee the grants made by the foundation in the United States, Latin America, and southern Africa.  She enjoyed those travels immensely, cherished the friendships she made, and was grateful for the kindness she received from those she met along the way.

Following her husband's death, she returned to South Dakota to join her family in helping to care for her mother, Ethel.  She was an active member of the community, serving on the Beresford Area Foundation. She was dedicated to helping raise her grandsons, Peter and Joshua, whom she loved whole-heartedly and by whom she was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Her daughter will be forever grateful for her example of service to others, and for her unfailing love. Her son-in-law, David, loved her and will miss her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elliott, her brothers Howard and Robert, and their wives, Alice Mae and Darlene, respectively. Also preceding her in death was her brother-in-law, Sam Brooks, and nieces, Ruth Kennedy and Gloria Swindell. She is survived by her brother, Charles, and his wife, Helen, as well as her sister-in-law, Gloria Brooks. Also surviving her are her nieces and nephews, Laurel (Milton) Shearer, Jack (Kathleen) Kennedy, Margaret (Steve) Elfstrand, Tom (Terri) Kennedy, Paige (Wallace) Anderson, Marcie (Randy) Massott, Marc Kennedy, Cathy (Tim) Martinez, Dave (Jaye Peterson) Kennedy, Scott (Kaye) Kennedy, Todd (Renee) Kennedy, Karen (Mark) Gehl, Sam (Jean) Brooks, Chris Brooks, Mary (Donny) Williams and scores of great-nieces and nephews.

Everyone is welcome to attend Helen's memorial picnic starting at 1PM on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at the Lion's Shelter in Beresford.