Milford K. Helgeson
Milford K. Helgeson, 96, Lake Mills, passed away Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 16, at Salem Lutheran Church, 401 South Lake Street in Lake Mills with Pastor Joel L. Guttormson officiating. Burial will take place in Salem Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 15, from 5-7 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd Street SE, Mason City, IA, 50401, or to the donor’s choice.
Milford Kenneth Helgeson was born Dec. 28, 1919 in Winnebago County, to parents Tilford and Louise (Honsey) Helgeson. He attended and graduated from Lake Mills High School.
On June 28, 1946 Milford was united in marriage with Doris Elaine Bjelland at Silver Lake Lutheran Church. The couple made their home and raised a family near Lake Mills where Milford farmed.
Milford was a longtime member of Salem Lutheran Church where he was confirmed as a young man, and served on church boards as an adult. Throughout the years, he was active with farming, politics, and the community of Lake Mills volunteering on the LMCS school board, ASCS board, and WCTA board of directors.
He was the definition of a Midwestern farmer: planting seeds, checking crops, harvesting his bounty and introducing turkeys to the area. Milford was consistently looking for projects to keep active and involved on the farm and with his family. Milford took great pride in his family and loved every minute he was able to spend with them.
Survivors include his three children: Janice Helgeson, David Helgeson, and Michael (wife, Rosalie) Helgeson, all of Lake Mills; six grandchildren: Tara (Jon) Stene, Zumbrota, Minn.; Jessica (Nick), McLawhorn, Minneapolis, Minn.; Rachel Helgeson, Minneapolis, Minn.; Ryan (Kelli) Helgeson, Northfield, Minn.; Justin (Megan) Helgeson, Okoboji; and Matthew (Julianne) Helgeson, Lake Mills; 13 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Jenna, William, Téa, Zoe, Drew, Josie, Hayden, Conner, Lane, Brooks, Mae, and Henrik; sister-in-law, Verna Helgeson, Lake Mills; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doris, in 2011; five brothers: Stanley (Neoma) Helgeson, Harry (Eileen) Helgeson, Kurtis Helgeson, Truman (Phyllis) Helgeson, and Vernon (Barbara) Helgeson; and sister-in-law, Lorraine Bliss.
