Helen M. Vavra, 92, formerly a longtime resident of Martin, SD, passed away on October 27, 2014, at the Custer Regional Hospital in Custer, SD.

Helen was born October 4, 1922, to Joseph and Antonia (Berankova) Buresh in Dodge, NE. She was raised on a farm near Batesland, SD, with 7 brothers and sisters, one half-sister and one half-brother.

On August 17, 1942, she married George Vavra in Los Angeles, CA. In 1944, they moved back to a farm west of Martin, SD. There they raised 3 children. Several years after the death of her husband, Helen moved from the farm into Martin. In September 2010, she moved into the Pine Hills Retirement Community in Hot Springs, SD. In March of 2014, she moved to the Wedgewood Regional Senior Care in Custer, SD.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Karen (Loyd) Thomsen of Custer, SD; Delores (Dennis) Dahm of Evansville, IN; one son, George (Ge'Lena) Vavra of Las Vegas, NV; one brother, Robert (Lorine) Buresh of Martin; one half-sister, Vlasta (Billy Joe) Kirk of Martin; one half-brother, Frank (Juanita) Buresh of Alliance, NE; 6 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, George; 3 sisters; 3 brothers; and one great-grandchild.

A wake service will be held on Friday, October 31, 2014, 7:00 p.m., at the St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer, SD. Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 1, 2014, at The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Martin, SD. Burial will follow in the Catholic section of the Martin Cemetery.