Helen Irene (Toupal) Peterson, age 96, passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at home in Tracy surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, September 13, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Tracy. Burial was in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Tracy. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Helen Irene Toupal was born on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929, on a farm near Kimball, SD, to Anton and Christina (Sluka) Toupal. She attended Richland Country School through the 8th grade, with English as a second language. Bohemian was spoken at home. Leaving home at age 18, she moved to Garvin. She cooked in a restaurant in downtown Garvin. On October 17, 1953, Helen and Raymond were married. They celebrated 61 years of marriage, friendship, laughter, and life while raising a family.
In 1972, Helen began her second career as the head cook at St. Mary’s School where she fed 21 years of grade school kids, teachers, priests, and an occasional bishop. In 2000, she was the recipient of the Bishop’s Service Award. In her spare time, Helen was an exquisite embroiderer. She also enjoyed gardening and spent many hours planning, planting and weeding her many flower beds. She loved babies and hearing them laugh. She loved baking, cooking, and feeding people. She had a large collection of Cool Whip containers ready to share leftovers or baked goods as you left her house.
Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Patricia (Jerry) Fogelson of Currie, Vickie (Richard) Unger of St. Ann, MO, Tony (Peggi) Peterson of Tracy, Thomas (Laura) Peterson of Crest Hill, IL, Timothy (Pam) Peterson of Sioux Falls, SD, and Terry Peterson of Tracy; grandchildren: Ronald (Danielle) Fogelson, Adam (Corinne) Fogelson, Josh (Christina) Fogelson, Scott (Laura) Peterson, Daniel Peterson, Christina Peterson, Michelle Kimberlin, Beth Unger, John Unger, James (Kim) Peterson, Anna (Chad) Johnson, and Alyssa (Justin) Freese; 25 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; brothers-in-law Arthur Peterson of Yuma, AZ, and Carl Peterson of Balaton; sisters-in-law Joanie Toupal and Sharon Toupal of South Dakota with many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond, grandchildren Justin Peterson, Nathan Peterson, Baby Fogelson, and Richard Unger III, her parents, Anton and Christina Toupal, six sisters, Virgie Soulek, Florence Pazour, LaVerne Peters, Sue Almjeld, Marcella Chmela and Doreen Toupal; and six brothers Harry, Wally, Willard, John, Jerry and Jimmy Toupal.
