Jon Helgeson died Friday, August 4, 2017 at his home near Dawson at the age of 65.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 1:30 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson. Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5-7:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. There will also be visitation at the church for one hour before the service on Thursday.
Jon Steven Helgeson was born in Dawson on July 15, 1952 to Helmer and Alice (Crosby) Helgeson. He was baptized at Riverside Lutheran Church in September 1952 and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in 1967. He attended Dawson schools, graduating in 1970. He married Sue Hauberg and they had a daughter Jennifer. Jon then attended Canby Vo-Tech for two years in the accounting program.
Being born into a farming family, this is the career path he chose. He enjoyed the freedom the farming lifestyle provided, planting and harvesting the crops. Besides crop farming, he raised cattle, sheep, and goats. On April 7, 1979, he married Susan Rachie at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson. They added two boys to the family: Eric born in 1982 and Michael born in 1985.
Early family vacations to the Watertown Zoo, Valleyfair, and the Cities turned into trips to Montana, Florida, and Wisconsin, to name a few, which provided a lifetime of memories. After the kids grew up, Jon and Sue traveled to the catacombs of Paris, the Coliseum in Rome, the ruins of Pompeii and many other destinations. A highlight of their travels was their 35th wedding anniversary sky diving experience in Vegas.
Supporting his children and their passions was important to Jon. He was very involved in Eric and Michael’s Boy Scout activities, from building the Pinewood Derby track to putting on many miles to and from Many Point. As the boys grew and their interests changed, he continued to support their individuality by attending all of Michael’s football games and music concerts. He passed his interest in technological advancements on to Eric. This led Eric to a career in computer science, owning his own business, and authoring a programming book. This summer as Jen started college to pursue a degree in Special Education Jon was proud of her drive to continue her education.
As his children grew, you could find him moving them from one place to another. When they each purchased their own homes, Jon was always willing to go from being a Dad to being a carpenter, plumber, or electrician. Jon was a “tinkerer.” He could build or repair anything and if he didn’t know how he would learn. He was intrigued by how things worked, which led him to pursue a degree in Ethanol Plant Technology later in life. His love of reading included all types of subject matter from repair manuals to horror, sci-fi, military history, and politics.
Jon was an extremely proud grandpa of eight, four girls and four boys ranging in age from 29 to 2 years old. Just as he supported his children in their activities, he also supported his grandchildren in theirs. From sitting in the stands during 4-H activities to attending dance and piano recitals. Due to not being able to serve in the military himself he was proud of his grandson Keith’s military service. Watching his grandchildren play brought him joy, so he constructed a special swing set and water-slide off the deck especially for them.
Jon was a lifetime member of Grace Lutheran Church where he served on the property board. He was instrumental in organizing cemetery records. Jon Helgeson died Friday, August 4, 2017 at his home near Dawson at the age of 65.
Jon is survived by his wife, Susan; his children: Jennifer (Mark Sachs) Berven, Appleton, Eric (Jaclyn) Helgeson, South Haven and Michael (Aleida) Helgeson, Slayton; grandchildren: Keith Berven, Rebekkah (fiancé Tony Schwenk) Berven, Haakon, Kade, and Sutton Berven, Erin, Holly, and Oliver Helgeson; brothers: Ronald Helgeson, Dawson, James (Lois Ann) Helgeson, New Brighton, Richard Helgeson, Dawson; sister Carol Ellefson, Buffalo and other extended family and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sister, Wanda Helgeson; brother-in-law, Donald Ellefson; and sister-in-law, Gracelyn Helgeson.