Helen Rohde Obituary

Anderson Rohde
Helen Anderson Rohde
February 11, 1928
November 15, 2025

Helen Anderson Rohde, daughter of Wesley and Dolores Sparling, departed this life for Heaven on November 15, 2025. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. Helen was a strong, resilient, accomplished woman. She valued faith, family, hard work, and positivity – traits she instilled in her children. She also helped them develop a lifetime fitness habit by immersing them in the activities offered at the local YMCA and later in club and high school sports.

While raising her eight children and working, Helen achieved a bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She used her education and writing skills to pursue a career as a journalist, and then as a public information officer for the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Red Cross and the United Fund, and lastly for Pikes Peak Community College. Helen shared her career path in journalism and public information with her husband of forty-two years, Malcolm (Andy) Anderson, who was the first public information officer of Colorado Springs. Helen and Andy met while working for the Colorado Springs Free Press. After marrying, they moved to Cripple Creek where they ran the Cripple Creek Gold Rush newspaper for three years before returning to Colorado Springs.

During her retirement years, Helen devoted herself to many volunteer activities. She gave of her time at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center, the Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, and Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM). As a member of Corpus Christi Church, she also served as a Stephens Minister, a coordinator for the Growing On bereavement project, and as a home Bible study facilitator. Her retirement years also provided an opportunity to travel at long last, accompanied by her second husband, Otto Rohde, a seasoned traveler. Helen also spent time pursuing her love of writing, producing her autobiography, short stories, family memory books, etc. Throughout her life, she hosted numerous family dinners and get togethers, always loving to be with family. She was our rock and will be greatly missed.

Helen was preceded in death by many loved ones, too numerous to list, but most notably by her beloved husband and father of her children, Malcolm (Andy) Anderson, her beloved second husband, Colonel Otto Rohde, and her cherished daughter, Karen Longhart of Kalispell, Montana. Helen is survived by her seven other children: David Anderson (Jennifer), Kathleen Anderson, Deborah Jenkins (Chris), Daniel Anderson (Julie), Christopher Anderson (Julie), Suzanne Evans (Danny), and Julie Nesbitt (Matt). She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild (on the way).

Helen was a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs and a devoted Catholic. Her memorial mass and celebration of life will be held at Mount St. Francis Catholic Church, 2650 Parish View, Colorado Springs, CO 80919, on a future date yet to be determined. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Liberty Heights Rehab and Memory Care for their kindness, love, and wonderful care.