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Obituaries from the week of September 6, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Oscar Helgeson, 95

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000 for Oscar J. Helgeson of Tracy. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Marlene Elmstrom officiated the services at Tracy Lutheran Church. Organist was Dick Stelter with David Mix as soloist. Casket bearers were Donald Olson, Kenneth Rialson, Kenneth D. Howe, John Rialson, Dale Howe and Bob Rialson.

Oscar Julius Helgeson was born April 7, 1905 to Ole and Clara (Helleson) Helgeson in Lyon County, Monroe Township, near Tracy, Minnesota on the Helgeson farm. He was baptized on April 24, 1905 at Hoiland Lutheran Church and later confirmed there on May 18, 1919. He received his formal education attending country school, District #88. He began his farming career at a young age, working with his father.

On October 2, 1934, he and Louella Rialson were married at her parents' home, rural Tracy. They made their home on the Helgeson family farm, and Oscar retired from farming in 1969. They moved to Tracy in 1975, at that time Oscar had lived in the same house for 70 years. In October of 1999, they moved into O'Brien Court. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on October 2, 1999.

Oscar was a member of Hoiland Lutheran Church where he served as custodian from 1942 until the church was torn down in 1958. He then joined Tracy Lutheran Church where he served as a Deacon. Oscar served on the Hoiland Cemetery Board and continued to care for the cemetery until 1980. He had previously been a school board member for District #88 and vice president of the local Lutheran Brotherhood at Tracy Lutheran Church.

Oscar remained in good health and finally gave up lawn mowing at the age of 94. He prided himself in the fact that he had attended every Tracy Box Car Day parade since its beginning in 1927. He entered the Tracy Area Medical Center on August 26, 2000 where he died 3 days later at the age of 95.

He is survived by his wife Louella, four daughters, Elaine (Jim) Kerr, Russell, MN; Janice (Jay) Fillmore, Encinitas, CA; Marlene (Bernie) Pecha, New Brighton, MN; Eunice Helgeson and special friend, Helge Nordby, Minneapolis, MN; five grandchildren, Paul (Melinda) Fillmore, David Fillmore, Kristen (Lance) Peitso, Diane Kerr and Kyle (Kristen) Pecha, and three great-grandsons, Adam Nelson, Nicholas Fillmore and Matthew Pecha, brothers- and sisters-in-law, Kenneth Howe, Marshall, MN; Lucille Ingebretson, New Ulm, MN; and Marvin and Arlene Rialson, Tracy, MN; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, daughter Arlene, grandson Michael Kerr and three sisters, Ingeborg, Adele and Olga.

Interment was at Hoiland Lutheran Cemetery, Garvin, MN with Almlie Funeral Home handling arrangements.

David Alexander, 70

Memorial services for David Allen Alexander, age 70, were held on Sat., Aug. 26 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Mankato. Inurnment was held at Woodland Hills Columbarium.

Mr. Alexander passed away at his home on August 22, 2000.

David was born on April 4, 1930 at Tracy, MN to Claude P. and Hannah E. (Stafford) Alexander. He grew up in Tracy and graduated from Tracy High School.

From 1950 to 1954, David served in the US Navy.

On December 28, 1956 he married Donna Johnson in Springfield, MN. He worked as an industrial spray painter and foreman at Associated Finishing in Mankato from 1964 to 1995.

He enjoyed gardening, coin collecting, great jokes and telling stories.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Mankato; daughter Ilene Alexander of Minneapolis; three brothers, Harold of Lake Preston, SD, Howard of Hesperia, CA, and Richard of Houston, TX; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are preferred to the ISJ Hospice, ISJ Dialysis, and/or Centenary United Methodist Church.