Helen Sandberg

Helen Lou Sandberg 93, of Custer, S.D., passed into the Lord’s arms Aug. 8, 2026.  
Helen will be missed by her family and friends.  Her daughters say she was the strongest woman they ever met.  In every unforeseen situation she went through, she would always say, it could have been worse, and God will help us through. 
Helen L. Sandberg was born to Langdon and Esther (Howard) Landis  Feb. 3, 1933, at home in Wamblee, S.D.
When she was 6 months olds her family moved to Custer, S.D.  She grew up in Custer and attended all 12 grades. She participated in Brownies, Girl Scouts and belonged to 4-H.  Graduating in 1951 the following fall she attended college in Brookings, S.D., taking Home Economics for a year.
On Aug. 31, 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Harland Olson, and they made their home in Pringle, S.D. They brought three daughters into the world—Jenny in  1961, Tracy in 1962 and Twila in 1963 (passed away after a few hours).
They raised their family in Pringle until moving to a ranch in Highmore, S.D., in the spring of 1967. In the fall of 1970, the Lord took Harland suddenly and Helen was left to raise their two young daughters.   Times were hard, but she always trusted the Lord would guide her in the right direction. 
She married Robert Sandberg in the fall of 1972, and moved the family to Unityville- Salem, S.D. In this union another daughter was born, Karla, in 1973.
 In the fall of 2000 Robert passed away suddenly.
Helen was a stay-at-home mom most of her life, very active in church and would lend a helping hand to family and friends whenever there was a need.  She was a 4-H leader for three years, belonged to the Unityville Home Extension Club and was an officer off and on for 20 years.
When her girls were grown, she worked at the Wrapit Corporation in Howard, S.D., for seven years and then at Care-a-Lot Childcare in Salem for 12 years.
She moved back home to Custer in the spring of 2010 to be closer to family. She lived in her home until moving to assisted living in November of 2022.
She was a member of Salem Evangelical Church at Center, S.D., active in WELCA circle and was a Sunday school teacher for 40 years. She later became a member of the Custer Lutheran Fellowship.
Helen devoted her life to the Lord, starting each day with devotions. One of her most memorable days was her surprise 90th birthday party, put on by her daughters. This was the first time her family was all together and the look on her face was priceless. She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, quilting, doing puzzles and attending book club with her church friends.  
Helen is survived by three daughters, Jenny (Todd) Nelson of Salmon, Idaho, Tracy (Ed) Pulse of Custer and Karla (Dave) Dather of Milford, Iowa;  10 grandchildren, Colleen (Doug) Sabers, Twyla (Kevin) Hommert, Jeremy (Lori) Pulse, Tanya Rayman, Josh (Erin) Pulse, Becky (Todd) Arneson, Dan (Megan) Bentley, Joe Bentley, Andy Bentley and Shelby Bentley; 10 great- grandsons five great granddaughters; three great-great granddaughters; two sisters, Hazel Jacobsen and Shirley Fernen; and two sisters-in-laws, Belva Landis and Isabel Hanson. 
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Harland Olson and Robert Sandberg; infant daughter, Twila Rae Olson; parents,  Langdon and Esther Landis; brother; Earl Landis; and sisters, Alice Johnson, Grace Fuller and Donna Knutson.
Memorial services were Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Custer Lutheran Fellowship.  Inurnment will be held at a later date in Salem.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.