Helen Kaye Ocampo

Helen Kaye Ocampo (Bortness), age 72, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 5:45 AM on September 10, 2026. She had been surrounded by family in the days prior to her passing.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 AM on October 2, 2026 at Oak Terrace Senior Living of Jordan (622 Aberdeen Ave, Jordan). Pastor Diane Goulson will officiate.

Helen was born on July 16th, 1954, in Brookings South Dakota to her parents who preceded her in death, Oliver Lloyd Bortness and Shirley Ann Bortness (Pedersen) who made their home in Volga South Dakota.

She was survived by her 3 siblings, Sandi Vasquez, Tom Bortness and Pat Peterson (David).

Throughout her life, Helen collected many people who became her family. She was survived by five children, three biological and two added children. Chad Braun, Crystal Morse, Heather Braun, Stacey Bronson and Nikki Becker. She left behind 11 beloved grandchildren, both biological and those she held in her heart. T'Eaire, Miranda, Marissa, Ulaycia, Evelyn, Mariah, Sadaya, Oliver, Maria, Makenna and the littlest one, Meadow, who live in the Philippines. She had one great-grandson, Grayson.

Helen enjoyed playing card games with her sisters and her friends, Mark, Jerry and Carol, who lived at Oak Terrance with her. She spent her recent time reading the Bible with Mark and had renewed her faith later in life. Anyone who spent time with Helen could testify she was a whole lot of woman!!! On one of her last days as she lay sleeping in bed, she wore a T-shirt with the quote: "You could not handle me even if I came with instructions" - that was Helen in a nutshell. Although she had faced many trials and dark times in her past, she had worked very hard to become the person she was on her last day; kind, caring and spunky but a hellraiser at heart and tough as nails.

In the spirit of Helen, we should end her obituary with a completely inappropriate statement because that's who she was, but instead we will leave with a quote from her beloved wizard of Oz. "There's no place like home," and she is finally home.

To our mom, grandma, aunt and sister, we will miss you and carry you with us each day, forever in our hearts our very own Miss May.