HELGELAND, Robert 1906-2005

HELGELAND

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/29/2005 at 21:34:37

Robert C. Helgeland, 98, of Northwood, died at his home in Northwood on Monday, June 20, 2005. Funeral service were on Thursday, June 23, 2005 at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with Rev. Barbara Wills officiating. Burial was at South Shell Rock Cemetery, Northwood. Military honors were conducted by VFW Post No 6779 Our Buddies Memorial. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of Northwood is in charge of arrangements.

Robert was born on Sept. 28, 1906 to Andrew S. and Ingaborg (Nelson) Helgeland on the family farm west of Northwood. Bob attended country grade school and graduated from Northwood High School in 1927. After graduation he was employed in several paving and construction jobs. He attended various trade schools studying aircraft and auto mechanics. Bob was employed as an auto mechanic at the Ford Garage in Northwood until WWII. Bob entered the U.S. Army Air Corp, where he was trained as an aircraft instrument technician, attaining the rank of Tech Sargent. Later in the war he was stationed on Saipan, where he was responsible for maintaining and calibrating the Norden Bombsights installed in the B-29 bombers which bombed Japan. Following his honorable discharge from the service, he returned to the Ford Garage in Northwood. Bob then enrolled in watchmaker school after which he joined L.T. Dillon Watchmaking Jewelry business in Northwood. Upon L.T. Dillon's retirement, Bob continued the business in Northwood until his own retirement. Included with this business was the calibration and maintenance of the big clock on Main Street, which was brought to Northwood by L.T. Dillon. It should be noted that Bob got up to change the clock's time at precisely the specified daylight savings time of 2 a.m. Bob was a lifetime member of the First Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council for six years. He was also the bell ringer until halted by physical limitations.

Bob enjoyed driving country roads in Worth and adjoining counties daily, noting points and activities of interest, such as new construction, country churches and farming. He also enjoyed fixing and repairing small problems in and about his home.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Sander and wife Annette, and Elmer; two sisters, Rossela and Viola Torgerson and husband Alfred; brother-in-law, Cy Bogue. He is survived by a sister Gladys Bogue of Manly, IA; sister-in-law Dorothy Helgeland of Lake Mills, IA.

Source: Northwood Anchor Online, 6/29/2005