Morris Helgerson, 77, of Thief River Falls, MN formerly of Newfolden, MN died on Friday, July 15, 2011 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN with his loving wife, Wilma at his side.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Pastor Ollie Urdahl officiating. Burial will follow at St. Pauli Cemetery, rural Thief River Falls, MN. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793.

Visitation will be held from Noon until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.

Morris Thomas Helgerson was born on April 27, 1934 at home in Wyandotte Township, Pennington County, MN the son of Alfred and Hannah (Enebak) Helgerson. He was baptized and confirmed at Clearwater Lutheran Church, rural Plummer, MN. He attended the Poplar Glenn School (one room schoolhouse, District 125) and the St. Hilaire School.

Morris entered into service with the United States Army on May 22, 1957 and was Honorably Discharged on May 21, 1963. He then moved to the iron Range to be with his family.

Morris worked as a farm hand from his teens to adult. He then worked as a miner, logger, trapper, he cut and sold wood, worked on large and small engines; Morris was a "jack of all trades". He enjoyed working on mowers, tillers & snow blowers. Morris loved to fishing in the Rainy River, hunting, helping other people, and playing cards.

On September 10, 1987, Morris was united in marriage to Wilma Cowen at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Palo, MN. The couple lived in Palo, MN, Plummer, MN and Newfolden, MN. They enjoyed driving the back roads together. Morris was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN.

Survivors include his wife, Wilma Frankie Helgerson of Newfolden, MN; step-children, Marcus (Donna) Delvaux of Anderson, IN and Raven (Patrick) Burke of Eden Prairie, MN; brother, Orlen (Doris) Helgerson of Palo, MN; sister, Dorothy Bell of Hibbing, MN; cousins, Ernest Lorenson of International Falls, MN and Earl (Kathy) Lorenson of Euclid, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; nephews, Mike, Tom & John Rewertz; grandnephew, Luke Tennison; and brother-in-law, Donald Bell.

Accompanist: Kathy Rokke

Special Music: New Hope Singers

Congregational Hymns: "Amazing Grace", "Rock Of Ages" & "In The Garden"

Casketbearers: Orlen Helgerson, Ernest Lornson, Mark Rewertz, Gordon Bring, Vernon Dokkin, Rocky Jesperson

Honorary Casketbearers: Russell Culkins