Merlyn Helland

Tuesday, March 3, 2015 9:06 pm

Merlyn Helland, 81, of Hesper, died Sunday, March 1, 2015, at his home. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, with the Rev. Matt Larson, officiating. Burial is in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the Hesper Lutheran Church and one hour prior to services at the church. Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.

Merlyn was born Nov. 29, 1933 in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County, to Chester and Hannah (Rotvold) Helland. He attended the Chase Country School and then graduated from the Mabel High School where he was active in 4-H and basketball. He worked at the Mabel Creamery the last two years of school then drove truck for Curtis Wennes Trucking. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Masters Sept. 24, 1955, at the Hesper Lutheran Church. They farmed near Hesper and did custom baling and combining until retiring in 2008. He was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church, Winneshiek Historical Society and the Hesper Mabel Area Historical society. He loved serving his community by serving on the church council, the North Winn School Board, Midland Coop Board and Aase Haugen Board. He enjoyed woodworking, roller skating, skiing, puzzles, fishing, motorcycles and playing dart ball.

Merlyn is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of rural Decorah; four children: Steven (Deanna) of Phoenix, Ariz., Diane (Gene) Tesmer of Knob Noster, Mo., Cindy (Philip) Nagel of Harmony, Minn. and Lisa (Richard) Nielsen of Calmar; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a sister, Doris (Robert) Doely, of Spring Grove, Minn.; a brother, Paul (Joanne) Helland, of Cedar Falls; sister-in-law Ellen Waters of Dows,; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son Mikkel “Mike”; brother-in-law George Waters; and three nephews: Timmy and Mike Waters and Kevin Helland.