Helen Miller, 86, went to her heavenly home on April 30, 2017. She was born on March 23, 1931 to William and Emily Minkwitz in Lockport, Illinois where she was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and was also married to her husband Duane. Helen was a proud graduate of the Lockport High School 1948 class. Following graduation she was employed at the Texaco Lockport refinery for 10 years as a secretary. There she met Duane. They married on Nov. 13, 1954 and resided in Lockport until 1962 when they were transferred to Houston, TX. In 1972, work took them to the Los Angeles area until 1979, when they returned to Houston.

Their marriage was blessed with three children, son Thomas of League City, TX, son John of Houston, and daughter Kristine (Neitman) of Everett, WA. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Emily Minkwitz; a brother, William III; and two half-sisters Bernadine (Ingram) and Virginia (Krieger). She is survived by her husband and three children, son-in-law Keith Neitman, a grandson Christopher Neitman, a sister-in-law Donna Minkwitz, and numerous dearly loved relatives and friends.

Helen was always active in church volunteer work. During their many years in Houston, she served at Kinsmen Lutheran Church working on the Altar Committee, heading up the mail team for 20 years, and assisting with office relief until a major stroke curtailed her activities in 2008. The church and her family were Helen's main interests, followed by a love for craft works (stitchery, pressed flowers, and rubber stamping) and doing lunch with her "mail crew."

Helen would like to have it known that her faith and the wonderful family she was blessed with were surely the "Wind Beneath Her Wings."

A memorial service will be held at Kinsmen Lutheran Church on Champions Forest Drive in Houston on Saturday, May 6 at 11:00 a.m., with inurnment taking place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you offer a donation to Kinsmen Lutheran Church in Helen's name if you feel moved to do so.