Helmer died Thursday, October 11, 2012 at his home in Renville, MN at the age of 79.
Funeral service was Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at 1:00 PM, at the Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with Pastor Kendall Stelter officiating; scripture lessons were Psalm 121, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 8:31-39 and Matthew 6:25-34; daughter, Kelly gave personal memories; and recordings of “Just As I Am”, “Amazing Grace” and Peace Like A River” were special music. Casketbearers were Tom Jerde, Jim Jerde, Brad Jerde, Ove Prestegard, Chuck Vonderhaar, and Bob Venaglia. and military honors were by the Strand-Saboe VFW Post of Dawson at the interment service at Grace Cemetery in Dawson.
Helmer Cleon Jerde was born April 27, 1933 at Dawson, MN the son of Helmer and Florence (Tobias) Jerde. He was baptized and confirmed at Riverside Lutheran Church and graduated from Dawson High School in 1951. Helmer served in the US Air Force from 1952 to 1956 and worked as an air traffic controller for a few years after his discharge. He was united in marriage with Patricia O’Neil in 1959. They made their home in the Twin Cities and he did construction work and later drove delivery truck. He moved to Renville in 2oo2. Helmer liked to hunt and fish when he was younger. He also enjoyed paint by numbers, puzzles and soduko.
He is survived by two daughters: Lee (Todd) Wehmas of St. Anthony, MN and Kelly (Mike) Katzung of Roseville, MN; two grandchildren: Tristan and Michael; three brothers: Tom (Diane) Jerde of Ramsey, MN, Jim (Sheryl) Jerde of Blaine, MN, and Brad (Mary) Jerde of Richfield, MN; five sisters: Edith Nelson of Waco, TX, Pat Liebl of Dawson, MN, Barb (Ove) Prestegard of Cottage Grove, MN, Shirley (Chuck) Vonderhaar of Coon Rapids, MN, and Kathy (Bob) Venaglia of Edina, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents; four brothers: John, Gail, Roger, and Eugene; and two sisters: Carol Steen and one in infancy.