Services for Helmer Benard Hanson
Thu, 09/03/2020 - 10:51am
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Helmer Benard Hanson, age 100, originally from Gonvick, Minnesota, passed away March 25, 2020, just three days shy of his 101st birthday, at the Golden Oak Senior Care Center in Hermantown, Minnesota.
Helmer was born on March 28, 1919 to Olaf and Hilda Hanson in Hangaard Township, of rural Gonvick. On June 4, 1943 he married Alice Danielson and they had two sons; Glenn and Dale. Helmer loved farming and he and his first wife Alice, were named the Clearwater County Valley Farmer and Homemaker of the year in 1988. Helmer and Alice along with fifteen other county Farmers and Homemakers, were honored at the Red River Valley Winter Shows on Monday, February 15, 1988.
Following is a small section of that newspaper article written by Carol Reed and published in the Leader Record.
“Alice and Helmer became Mr. & Mrs. on June 4, 1943. In addition to raising two boys, Glenn and Dale, they raised hay, wheat, barley, oats, chickens, pigs and a bunch of Holstein dairy cows on the 120-acre farm five miles SW of Gonvick they’ve live on since their marriage.
They started out with a buggy and two horses, a house with no plumbing, no electricity and very little insulation but they had lots of love and determination. That determination and a heap of hard work got them their animals, their machinery, which was pulled by horses until 1947, eventually a Model A car in 1946 and electricity installed in 1950 which enabled them to buy a surge milker—Helmer said, “I remember the day they turned the electricity on. It was the highlight of our farming. They added onto their barn in 1958, and got plumbing in the house in 1960.
Helmer had gotten a farming deferment during World War II. He reminisces, “I had so much work to do farming on my own and Alice’s dad’s farm (he had leukemia) that I joked about going off to the war to get a vacation!”
Farming with horses, bundling and shocking corn and grain, threshing the grain, plowing with one bottom plows, clearing land by cutting trees down with a Swede saw and blasting stumps, picking rocks, ditching. Goodness, a person can see how the war would seems like a vacation!”
During his retirement Helmer served as the Pine Lake township property tax assessor including some other areas for several years and he really enjoyed that work. He had a particular skill in dealing with people and their property tax issues.
Helmer was also an active member of Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook. He served on the Elder Board for over forty years and as President of the congregation for more than two decades. Helmer had a heart for the Native Americans and served as President of the Northern Lutheran Mission which supported missions in both Redby and White Earth Indian Reservations.
He was an active member of the Gideons and visited the county jail periodically and often spoke at various churches and at the Good Samaritan Home in Clearbrook.
Helmer is survived by his two sons: Glenn Hanson and his wife JoAnn of Hermantown, Minnesota and their three daughters: Lisa & Brett Baker and their sons, Brendan and Dylan; Brenda & Eric Hill and their children, Ashley and Nathan; Laura and Bob Moore and their daughters, Mya and Ally. And Rev. Dale Hanson and his wife LuAnn of Eagan, Minnesota and their children: Mara and Mark Perish, and their sons: Cody, Idrese and Jared and Mark Hanson and his wife, Valerie Deus. And numerous nieces and nephews.
Helmer is also survived by three step-children: JoAnn Hanson (also his daughter-in-law) of Hermantown, Minnesota, Robert Bagne and his wife Laura of Ramsey, Minnesota and Jim Bagne of Gonvick, Minnesota. And a step-grandson, Brady Bagne and his wife Cassie and their three children: Jordan, Lauren and Landon.
Helmer was preceded in death by his parents, Olaf and Hilda Hanson; eleven siblings: Stella and her husband, Lothard Jacobson, Walter and his wife, Ruth Hanson, Emma and her husband, Dave Thorbeck, Olga and her husband, Ernie Berger, Alice and her husband, John Skjervan, Vida and her husband, Alvin Strand, Marvel and his wife, Ellen Hanson, Dily and her husband, Lester Bergeson, Tootsie and her husband, Bill Greenlee, Glady and her husband, Jack Weaver and Lorie and her husband, Rev. Richard Tuff.
He was also preceded in death by his two wives; Alice in 1988 and Ruth in 2017. And by two grandsons: Paul Hanson in 1979 and Jacob Hanson in 2000.
Helmer and Ruth, his second wife, were united in marriage at Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 16, 1989. They enjoyed 27 years of marriage until Ruth’s death on May 1, 2017.
Helmer was buried on April 1, 2020 in the Elim Lutheran Cemetery of rural Clearbrook, alongside his first wife, Alice.
This Memorial Service is being held today at Elim Lutheran Brethren Church due to the coronavirus that has been among us for the last several months. Rev. Adam Krog, the Pastor at Elim Lutheran is officiating.
Helmer Hanson was one of the finest men who ever lived. He was honest, caring, kind, gentle and friendly, a true friend of all who met him. He was well known for his welcoming hand-shake and big smile. He enjoyed a long and good life and will be greatly missed by all his family members and everyone who knew him.
Memorial Service that will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m at the Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. CDC guidelines will be observed. If you cannot attend, cards or memorials can be sent to Hanson Family, 5219 Arrowhead Road, Duluth, MN 55811
Blessed be the memory of Helmer Hanson.
