Marvel Helgeson

Marvel Helgeson, 83, of

Minot died peacefully on

Sunday, September 27,

2020 in a Minot hospital

of Covid-19 with her lov-

ing family by her side.

Marvel Mae Wurtz was

born on September 9,

1937 in Plaza, ND to

Christian and Minnie

(Lee) Wurtz. Raised and

educated in Plaza, Marvel

graduated from Plaza

High School in 1955.

After continuing her edu-

cation at Minot State

University, she graduated

in 1960 with a Bachelor of

Science degree in Elemen-tary Education. She was

crowned Miss Minot

(1960-1961) and partici-

pated in the Miss North

Dakota Pageant while at-

tending MSU. After gra-

duation, she taught school

in Great Falls, Montana

and San Diego, California.

Marvel met the love of

her life in college and re-

turned to North Dakota to

marry Dennis Helgeson

on August 6, 1961 in Pla-

za, ND. They built their

life in Minot where Marv-

el was an elementary

school teacher at Minot

Public Schools until they

started their family.

Dennis and Marvel’s chil-

dren – Michelle, Mark and

Christian – cherished their

mother and will

remember the traditions

and memories she created

in their homes on 26th

Street and Bel Air Drive.

Marvel returned to substi-tute teaching after raising

their children and taught

until 1999.

Traveling to insurance

conventions over the

years, visiting family

across the country and

spending the winter

months at The Villages in

Florida for the past de-

cade were some of Dennis

and Marvel’s best times.

They celebrated milestone

anniversaries with

memorable family trips to

California for their 40th

and a Bahama cruise for

their 50th. The family was

excited to surprise Marvel

with an 80th birthday par-

ty. There was nothing

better to Marvel than hav-

ing her family together.

Marvel’s servant-heart

and dedication to her

church, First Lutheran

Church – Minot, was a

constant throughout her

life as a Sunday School

teacher for fourteen years,

serving on various com-

mittees and as a member

of a church circle. Her

community involvement

also included many posi-

tions in PEO Chapter AG,

as a member of the Minot

Country Club and

volunteering for the Norsk

Hostfest.

Marvel loved angels

and truly was an angel on

earth. She blessed others

with her kindness, gra-

ciously looked on the

bright side of every situa-

tion, and was always

available for a phone call,

coffee or a visit. Her

greatest gift was making

everyone she met feel so

special, which is why

people were so drawn to

her. Marvel will be fondly

remembered for making

sure everyone had eaten

more than enough meat-

balls and mashed potatoes

and baking the best

desserts, especially her

yum-yum bars, grandma

bars and pies. The family

knew she would arrive

with extra goodies in Tup-

perware for later. Marvel

eagerly taught you the la-

test game they had

learned, but especially en-

joyed playing whist and

bridge with family and

friends. She was the mas-

ter garage sale shopper –

always looking for a deal.

Dennis joked that he was

the only thing she didn’t

get at a garage sale. Marv-

el remembered everyone’s

special days and every

holiday with cards that ar-

rived early. Collecting

silhouettes, golfing with

Dennis, putting together

puzzles, reading and

walking with friends were

favorite pastimes.

Marvel beamed with

pride when she shared the

latest adventures of her

children and grandchil-

dren, which she did often.

She was passionate about

supporting them in their

aspirations and attending

their activities. As the ul-

timate family memory

keeper, Marvel document-ed their lives on calendars

and saved every clipping,

program, card and picture

for them.

Marvel’s loving family

includes: her husband of

59 years Dennis; children:

Michelle (Darwin) Kol-

schefski of La Habra, CA,

Mark (Beth) Helgeson of

Anchorage, AK and Chris-

tian (Trisha) Helgeson of

Bismarck, ND; seven

grandchildren: Danielle

Kolschefski of Walnut

Creek, CA, Alexis Kol-

schefski of La Habra, CA,

Taylor Helgeson of Garris-on, ND, Anthony Kol-

schefski of La Habra, CA,

Sydney Helgeson of Tus-

caloosa, AL, Henry Helge-

son of Valparaiso, IN, and

Greta Helgeson of An-

chorage, AK; sister: Dar-

lene Wurtz of Plaza, ND

and in-laws: Ruth Wurtz

of Ryder, ND, Grace

Wurtz of Plaza, ND, Jerry

(Sandy) Helgeson of

Windsor, CO, Robert (Lin-

da) Marshall of Fort

Wayne, IN and numerous

nieces, nephews and

cousins.

Marvel was preceded

in death by: her parents,

infant brother: Christian;

brothers: Everett, George

and Richard Sr. and

sister-in-law: Dorothy

Wurtz.

Celebration of the Life

of Marvel Helgeson: Due

to Covid-19 quarantine

restrictions placed on the

family the service will be

in mid-October at First

Lutheran Church in

Minot. The date and time

will appear a.s.a.p. on the

website, Facebook and in

The Minot Daily News.

Also, the service will be

livestreamed.

Interment will be in

Rosehill Memorial Park –

Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to the First Lutheran

Church Foundation.

Memories and con-

dolences may be shared at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.

Thomas Family Funeral

Home – Minot has been

entrusted with the ar-

rangements.