Almira Helgeson

Almira Sigrid was born on September 21, 1915 at Hazel Run, Minnesota, the daughter of Sylvester S. and Marie Louise (Jacobson) Mickelson. She grew up in Sauk Centre, MN and Osakis, MN where her father operated a grocery store and meat market. Almira loved to help her father and her help was needed; they felt the effects of the Great Depression in their business. She graduated from the Osakis High School in 1933 and went on to Teachers Training that was popular in those days. She taught country school near Long Prairie where she had 36 students in grades 1 through 8; she was her own janitor and fixed hot lunch for the students. Almira was united in marriage to Milton ?Tony? Helgeson on July 5, 1936. They spent one year in the Seattle, WA and the Portland, OR area. They returned to Alexandria and lived there until 1996 when they moved to Glenwood, MN. To this union were born JoAnn, David, and John. Tony was a building contractor and built many homes in and around Alexandria. The whole family was involved in his business. They were very active in church at First Lutheran where Tony was one of the contractors for the present church building. Almira served as a teacher in Sunday school, as superintendent in Vacation Bible School and started the youth choir. She sewed and made the baptismal towels that each new baby received for many years. She sewed curtains for the new church. Almira sang in the choir and was one of three to sew the first choir robes. She served as president of the Ladies Group for three years and also served as treasurer. Almira worked with the Dorcus Group sewing quilts that were donated overseas. She taught sewing lessons at the Singer Sewing Machine Company for several years. Almira was bookkeeper for the Knute Nelson Memorial Home for twenty years as well as for her husband?s business. On Saturday, May 3, 2008 Almira died at the age of ninety-two years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tony who died in 1999; her daughter, JoAnn Swenson, who died in 1996; and sister, Ruby Louise Simonson; three brothers, Orville, Vernon and Milo Mickelson. Almira is survived by her sons, David and wife, Nancy Helgeson, of New Brighton, MN and John and wife, Victoria Helgeson, of Minneapolis; son-in-law, Philip Swenson, of Alexandria; grandchildren, Lori Nurse and husband, Ken, Scott Swenson and wife, Lisa, Karla Johnson and husband, Kevin, and Michael Helgeson; great grandchildren, Amanda Nurse, Nate Nurse, Haley Swenson, Erik Swenson, Nicole Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Paige Johnson. A funeral service was held Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Rev. John Peshek officiated. Randy Morken and Karen Gladen provided music. Interment followed in the East Moe Lutheran Cemetery at Garfield, MN. Casket bearers included Mike Helgeson, Kevin Johnson, Gary Tibbetts, Scott Swenson, Richard Helgeson and Roger Helgeson. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.