Helen Allene Johnson-Riggs

Helen Allene Johnson-Riggs passed away peacefully on September 6, 2023 at the age of 87. She was born in Poweshiek County, Iowa in 1936 to Evan and Ada Allen.  Her early years in Iowa were followed by her grade school years in rural South Dakota, then moving to Minnesota with her parents and siblings as a young teen to the Eagle Bend area.  There she met and married Doran (Slim) Johnson in 1952.  Together, they raised six children in the Staples area.  After Doran’s passing, Helen found a second chance at love and married John Floyd Riggs in 1995.  She and John were blessed with 17 happy years together until his death in 2012.

Helen was a longtime resident of Staples, working over the years at Reed and Carlson grocery, Carter-Ringer Company and many years for Oakridge Group Homes in Staples. She was a member of Staples Church of Christ and active with the ladies group, sewing quilts for their mission projects.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Evan and Ada Allen, sisters Eva Heller and Elsie Riggs, husbands Doran Johnson and John Riggs,  She is survived by brother Richard Allen of Staples, sister Charlotte Guse of Eagle Bend, children Judy (David) Babbitt of Sumter, SC, Alice Majerus of Elk River, MN, Vicki Jenson of Hudson, WI, James (Jeanne) Johnson of Bloomington, MN, Debra Bailey (Hank) of Long Prairie, MN, and Jeffrey (Lori) Johnson of Pequot Lakes, MN, grandchildren Michelle Sjobeck, Clinton Bailey, Jeremiah Bailey, Jason Bailey, Julia Starnes, Sylvia Davis, Aaron Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Thomas Johnson, and Megan Johnson. 12 great-grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews

A celebration of life service will be held on September 23^rd, 2023, at the Staples Church of Christ, Viewing from 9:00am – 11:00am, and Services at 11:00am.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.