Merlyn was born November 29, 1933 in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa to Chester and Hannah (Rotvold) Helland. He attended the Chase Country School and then graduated from the Mabel High School where he was active in 4-H and basketball. He worked at the Mabel Creamery the last two years of school then drove truck for Curtis Wennes Trucking. On September 24, 1955 he was united in marriage to Marilyn Masters at the Hesper Lutheran Church. They farmed near Hesper and did custom baling and combining until retiring in 2008. He was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church, Winneshiek Historical Society, and the Hesper Mabel Area Historical society. He loved serving his community by serving on the church council, the North Winn School Board, Midland Coop Board, and Aase Haugen Board. He enjoyed woodworking, roller skating, skiing, puzzles, fishing, motorcycles, and playing dartball.
Merlyn passed away Sunday, March 1, 2015 at his home at the age of 81.
Merlyn is survived by his wife Marilyn of rural Decorah; four children Steven (Deanna) of Phoenix, Arizona, Diane (Gene) Tesmer of Knob Noster, Missouri, Cindy (Philip) Nagel of Harmony, Minnesota, and Lisa (Richard) Nielsen of Calmar, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; a sister Doris (Robert) Doely of Spring Grove, Minnesota; a brother Paul (Joanne) Helland of Cedar Falls, Iowa; sister-in-law Ellen Waters of Dows, Iowa; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son Mikkel “Mike”; brother-in-law George Waters; and three nephews Timmy and Mike Waters, and Kevin Helland.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa with the Rev. Matt Larson, officiating. Burial will be in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 – 7 PM Friday, March 6th at the Hesper Lutheran Church and one hour prior to services at the church. |
