Helga Harriet Bindschadler, 87 years old, passed away peacefully in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at the Davis Hospice Center on February 14, 2026. She was born in Dickinson, North Dakota on December 26, 1938. In the early 1950s, Helga’s family moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where she attended Laramie High School and met Darryl Bindschadler, whom she married in 1960. They were happily married for 65 years.

Helga is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Irmgard Prostel, sisters Evelyn and Liz, and nephew Steven Will.

She is survived by her loving husband Darryl Bindschadler and their children Duane Bindschadler (Lisa Jackson), Brian Bindschadler (Katie), Sara Johnson, and Kathryn Campbell (Kevin). In addition, she leaves behind cousins, nieces and nephews, thirteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Helga attended the University of Wyoming, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and played the clarinet in the marching band. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in psychiatric nursing from Washington University in St. Louis. Helga was on the nursing faculty at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

She and Darryl lived in Rochester, New York, where they had their first child, Duane, St. Louis, Missouri, where they had their second child, Brian, Bethesda, Maryland, where they had their third child, Sara, and Fort Logan, Colorado, where for some reason they didn’t have any children, before settling in Cheyenne, where they had their fourth and final child, Kathryn.

Helga had a long and distinguished career, filling many different roles. While living in Rochester, she was a visiting public health nurse and worked night shifts in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit caring for premature babies. In Cheyenne, Helga worked at the Mental Health Center as a therapist, then opened a private counseling and consulting practice. She also worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming, where she taught classes and helped develop the psychiatric nursing program. Helga gave the U.W. commencement speech to the College of Nursing students. After retiring, she was the co-owner of an apartment building, and she spent many years as a very involved and supportive landlord to many grateful tenants.

Helga lived in Cheyenne for 57 years and was actively involved with the community in numerous ways. She was a member of the Wyoming Nurses Association, served on boards for the animal shelter, the Y.M.C.A., and Cheyenne Little Theater, was an original member of the Blue Stocking organization, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honorary, and spent many hours as a volunteer in various capacities, including working at the Davis Hospice Center, delivering Meals-on-Wheels, and visiting elementary school classrooms dressed as the cat in the hat on Dr. Seuss day.

Helga lived a rich and meaningful life, and in her spare time, she enjoyed camping and hiking, cross-country skiing, biking the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota three times, and she competed in numerous races and triathlons (often medaling in her age group). She also enjoyed sewing, embroidery work, watching the Wyoming Cowgirl and Cowboy basketball games as well as the Colorado Rockies baseball games, attending the Cheyenne Symphony, participating in and attending Cheyenne Little Theater performances, walking with friends, gardening, competing in a bowling league, and most importantly, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Helga impacted countless lives and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.