
Obituary for Helen Friell

She attended West Salem Schools, graduating in 1940.
Helen married Erving John Friell in 1946 and they moved to Bangor. To this marriage was born a son, Lee, and a daughter that died in infancy. Erving predeceased Helen, passing away in 1961. Helen was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, West Salem her entire life. She served on church council and was actively engaged in church ministry. Helen lived the church mission statement – God’s work. Our hands. – for over 100 years.
Following high school, Helen worked at the Union State Bank. She was then employed as a telephone operator in Bangor and later as a Teaching Assistant at Bangor Elementary. She enjoyed working with the students and their families. Helen cherished those relationships for the rest of her life. She retired in 1987 and moved back to West Salem in 1993.
Helen is survived by her son, Lee of Johnston, Iowa and her dear friends, Maureen and Daryl Wermedal of West Salem. Also surviving are many relatives including her nephews, Timothy, Richard, David, and James Anderson, and David, Bruce, Scott and Craig Friell; her nieces, Mary Papenfuss, Betty Jones, Karen Brown, Kristine Brown, Anita Shallcross, Jane Craig, Joan Holt and Lisa Stello; and many other friends from every chapter of her life.
The family would also like to thank the entire staff at the Onalaska Care Center for the wonderful, compassionate care provided to Helen over the past three years.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 359 North Leonard St., West Salem. Pastor Jonathan and Pastor Jean Schmidt will officiate. Burial will be held in Neshonoc Cemetery. The service will be live streamed by the church and may be found at https://youtube.com/@techosl
A visitation will be held from 4 PM until 6 PM, on Thursday, and also from 9 AM until the time of service, Friday, both at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in West Salem.
Memorials are suggested in Helen’s name to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church West Salem – Endowment Fund, the Onalaska Care Center – Rec Dept, Bangor Area Historical Society, West Salem Historical Society, or to the donor’s choice.
Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Jostad Chapel, West Salem is assisting the family with arrangements.