Helen Pagakis, age 96, of Blooming Prairie, MN, died Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Austin, MN. She was born on June 3, 1920, in Altoona, Pennsylvania the daughter of Peter and Catherine (Sitok) Poulos. As a child, she moved to Harvey, Illinois where she grew up and attended school. On December 31, 1940, she married Stephen Pagakis and the couple made their home in Harvey. They owned and operated The Joint in Homewood, IL. After selling the business, Helen stayed home to raise her daughter. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, was an excellent cook and a seamstress making drapes and her daughter's wedding dress. She is survived by her daughter Stephenia Taffy (Charles) Bean of Owatonna and a grandson, Adam Bean of Owatonna. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and five siblings. A private burial was held at Forrest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna, MN.