Helen M. Mlsna's Obituary
Helen Marie (Bjornstad) Mlsna, a "Coon Valley Girl", was called home on June 14, 2011, and will rest beside her late husband, Sylvester Mlsna, a "Brinkman Ridge Boy", at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church, next to the Bjornstad Homestead where she was born on August 30, 1915, and lived the first 31 years of her life.
Helen was the daughter of Hans and Hedvig Bjornstad, and granddaughter of Johannas and Anna Bjornstad, early Norwegian immigrants. She was the last surviving sibling of six: sisters Hilda Enerson of Viroqua and Mabel Anderson of Westby; brothers Julius, Pete, and Ham Bjornstad, all of Coon Valley.
Helen and Sylvester moved to Fort Belvoir, Virginia after World War II, with their two children Curtis and Rachel in 1946. They remained in the Virginia area for the next 35 years, with just a brief stay back in Wisconsin when Sylvester again served his country during the Korean War. While at Fort Belvoir, Helen taught kindergarten for 15 years, during which time one of her students was David Eisenhower, the first grandchild of then President Dwight Eisenhower.
In 1981, Helen and Syl retired and returned to Viroqua, Wis. where they lived for 22 years. In 2003, Helen moved to Lewes, Delaware to be closer to her children, Rachel (Mlsna) and Al Leonardo of Lewes, DE., and MaryAnn and Curtis Mlsna (now deceased) of Manassas, VA. Granddaughters: Christy (Mlsna) Rowe of Manassas, VA.; Shearin (Mlsna) Henegar of Manassas, VA.; Rolanda (Leonardo) Mojdehbakhsh of Sparta, NJ.; Karen (Leonardo) McCloskey of Wilmington, DE.; and Alexandra (Leonardo) Blasi of Wilmington, DE. Great Grandchildren: Sarah (Rowe) Mayhew; Emily and Matthew Rowe; Ashleigh Henegar; Rachel and Arianna Mojdehbakhsh; and Drea Lynn McCloskey. Great Great Grandchild, Jillian Mayhew.
We love you Mom. We love you Grandma.
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