Helen Barnick, 84, Madison, WI, formerly of the Max area, died Tuesday, May 12, 2009 in a Madison Hospital. 

Helen was born March 24, 1925 on the family farm near Max, North Dakota, the daughter of John and Stacy (Kankovsky) Barnick.  She was raised and educated during her younger years at Max, and graduated from Minot High School. She attended business college in Fargo then graduated from Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis in 1945. She graduated from Minot State College in 1954 with a degree in Music and also attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. 

Helen worked as a legal secretary for various law firms in Chicago until 1982.   She returned to Max in 1983 to care for her father and was actively involved in the music ministry at First Baptist Church, Minot, where she served the congregation as choir director for several years.    

Helen moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1985 to continue as a legal secretary for Federal Magistrate Judge R J “Jim” Groh. From 1992 until she retired in 1994 she worked as a case administrator for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.  She continued to live in Madison until the time of her death. 

Helen was actively involved in many musical groups and organizations while living in Chicago, Minot and Madison.  She was also a member of the Christian Business and Professional Women’s Association, Symphony League and Sigma, Sigma, Sigma Sorority all Madison.  Helen was perhaps best known for her abiding faith in Christ and her exceptional vocal and keyboard skills. 

Her loving family includes: sister, Frances Barnick, Seattle, Washington; nieces and nephews; Roland J “Barnie” Barnick Jr., Colorado Springs, CO, Terry Barnick, Georgia, Vaughn Barnick, Columbia, S.C., Edgar Semchenko, Apex, NC, Joyce Semchenko, Denver, CO, Norval Semchenko, Max, ND, Kathy Dietz, Fargo, ND and Jay Barnick, Washburn, ND; sisters-in-law: Geneve Barnick, Columbia, S.C. and Ethel Barnick, Washburn, ND; very special friends Jim and Evelyn Groh and their children: Jamie, Tom, Jon, Chris.  

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, sister; Mabel Semchenko, brothers; Roland and Ted Barnick and infant brother Alfred Barnick, nieces; Carolyn Taylor and Nancy Sweckard. 

Funeral service: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment:  Max Baptist Cemetery, rural Max, ND.
Visitation: Sunday from Noon-3:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the 'Free Wheelchair Mission' or donor’s choice.

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