Russell Helgerson

Funeral Services for Russell Helgerson, 84, of Baker MT will be at 11:00 a. m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at the American Lutheran Church in Baker, MT with Pastors Bruce & Reba Kolasch officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in Bonnievale Cemetery at Baker. Military rites will be accorded by the Baker American Legion, Fallon Post #35. Visitation will be 1:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. on Tuesday, January 20th at Stevenson Funeral. Russell passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2009, at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT. Russell Helgerson was born on November 15, 1924, in McIntosh, SD to Helge and Julia (Burkum) Helgerson. He grew up on the family ranch near McIntosh. He attended school there and graduated from McIntosh high School and soon after joined the United States Army Air Corp. He served his country in WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946. Russell worked with family members on grain elevators in various places through out the Dakotas. On December 27, 1949, in Aberdeen, SD, he was joined in marriage to the love of his life, Marine Clara Afrank. Russell attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he received an Associates Degree in Welding, and soon after settled down in Baker where he worked for M. D. U. until he retired in 1987. Russell was very active and involved with many projects to help grow and better the Baker community. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church. Through out the years he was active as a Sunday school teacher, superintendent, and board member and did various ?fix it? jobs when needed. Russell was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was a member of the NRA. He loved any sport or hobby that involved nature. He had a tremendous passion for ?Mother earth?, and her incredible beauty. He spent many hours driving through out the country side with his wife and/or daughter, Julee, seeking out various types of wood to use for his ?creations?. You could almost always find him in his spare time, in his garage working with his wood, metal or rocks with his large variety of tools. He never met a tool he didn?t like. In fact, he used many of them to build his own home in 1951. Happily, he will be remembered for his beautiful wooden boxes that he built in his later years. He has given many as gifts to friends in the Baker area. Russell held a very special love for his wife of 55 years, Marine, who went to Heaven on April 6, 2005. He has spent the last four years dreaming of the moment that they would reunite for eternity. He is survived by his three daughters, Daune Scott, Loveland, CO, Julee Morrison, Baker, MT and Alita (Terry) Olsen, Parker, CO; one brother, Forrest (Lori) Helgerson, Dent, MN; five grandchildren, Randy, Jon, Troy, Anglia and Alison and six great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Michael, Lauren, Samantha, Austin, and Ashlyn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marine, a son, Rodney, two sons-in-law, two brothers and one sister. Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: January 21, 2009
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Wednesday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT.