Helen M. Miller, 82 of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2026. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at St. Michael Catholic Church. To view the service online, please visit https://youtube.com/live/lJy8a93UtIM?feature=share Visitation will be Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with 4PM rosary and 7PM vigil at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Helen Marie Westendorf was born September 1, 1943 to Marie Westendorf. Helen spent much of her formative years with her Aunt Millie and Uncle Jim as well as with her grandparents on their farm in Geddes, SD. She would often say that her Aunt Millie and Grandma Westendorf had saved her with their prayers and guidance.

Helen attended Cathedral Elementary, Bishop Heelan, and Iowa Business School. Later in life, she took classes at Briar Cliff while working for Terra Industries.

Helen was united in marriage to Paul Miller on April 25, 1964 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, IA. Not one to waste time, the first of six children came nine months and six days later.

Helen loved being a mother which kept her busy, but in her spare time she would be found reading, doing crossword puzzles, writing poems and short stories. She was a great storyteller and aimed at making people laugh. She loved to sing and travel, often doing both at the same time. Her voice was the soundtrack of family trips, with her particular affinity for Neil Diamond songs.

Helen enjoyed making vacation plans, sometime centered around one of Paul’s marathons. She would plot out a course while trying include interesting stops along the way. She especially loved presidential libraries and homes, trips to the mountains, and visiting her family.

Mostly, Helen lived by faith and believed in the power of prayer. Her Catholic faith was one of the most important things in her life. As the child of an unwed woman in the 1940s, Helen would come to be active in the ProLife movement telling everyone that all unborn babies deserve to live. After all, without Helen, 23 (soon to be 24) people would not exist today.

Those who exist and will miss her terribly include her six children: Paul (Kim) Miller of Urbandale, IA, Dan (Aaron) Miller of Los Angeles, CA, Dave (Katie) Miller of Jefferson, SD, Maria (Paul) Eisenmann of Stafford, VA, Jeff (Jessica) Miller of Sioux City, IA, and Regina (Rod) Lantz of Sioux City, IA , grandchildren: Jaimie (Jeff), Brittany (Josiah), Morgan (Joe), Abbie (Eric), Brandon, Natalie (Mike), Nick (Taryn), Michael (Madelynn), Ashley, Heather, and Brookelyn (Jae), great grandchildren: Kayliegh, Peyton, Edward, Wade, Elsa, Frances, as well as one due in a couple of weeks. Helen is also survived by her sister Jeanne (Johnny) Leinen, brother-in-law Gene (Jan) Miller and sister-in-law Wavie Greigg.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Paul, mother Marie, in-laws Kenneth and Elva Jane Miller, several brothers-in-law, sisters in-law and nieces Virginia, Elva, Eileen, and Annie.

The family would like to express our deep gratitude to the Assisted Memory Care and all staff of Holy Spirit Retirement Home and St. Croix Hospice who helped Helen prepare to leave us for her eternal life with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.