Fern E. Helstedt, 96, Minot, and formerly of Bergen, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in a Minot nursing home.

Fern was born Feb. 16, 1913, on the family farm in Odin Township of McHenry County, the daughter of Lars and Anna (Nelson) Helstedt. She was baptized and confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran Church in Bergen. She was raised on the family farm in the Bergen area and graduated from Bergen High School in 1931. She attended Minot State Teachers College and received her standard teaching certificate.

Fern taught at rural schools in the North Prairie School District, north of Velva, at Medina, and in Odin District School #2, near Bergen. In 1936, she moved to Minot and worked at the City Bakery as a sales clerk for four years. After attending the Minot Business College, she was employed as a bookkeeper and cashier at Nash Finch Co. until 1946. She then moved to Billings, Mont., where she became employed as a bookkeeper and office manager for Sweetheart Bakery. She worked there for five years, until transferring to Minot in 1951. She worked with the company, which later became Interstate Brands Corp., retiring as the office manager in 1975.

Fern was a very dedicated member of the Bergen Lutheran Church and Augustana Lutheran Church, Minot. She was active with the Women's Missionary Society, Lutheran Church Women, Deborah Circle group, served as a Sunday school teacher, organist, member of the church choir, Augustana Senior Fellowship group and Church Visitation. She was also a member of the Minot Senior Citizens, American Association of Retired Persons and the Swedish Heritage Society.

Fern enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing piano and organ, quilting, going fishing, golfing and traveling, making trips to Sweden and other countries. She was always concerned about others, helping wherever there was a need. She was very devoted to her church. She was dearly loved by her friends and family and will be greatly missed.

Her loving family includes: Seventeen nieces and nephews, along with many great-nieces and great-nephews, many great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents, Lars and Anna; her sisters, Anna Asplund, Marie Loudon, Myrtle Adam, Selma Wiedmann, Florence H. Anderson and an infant, Anna; and brothers, Lars, Walter and Rudolph Helstedt.

Funeral service: Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at 11 a.m. in Augustana Lutheran Church, Minot.

Interment: Bergen Cemetery, Bergen, later in the spring of 2010.

Visitation: Friday, Dec. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: Memorials are preferred to Augustana Lutheran Church, Minot.

Those wishing to sign the online memorial register or share memories are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).