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Helmer Nygaard • 1908 - 2002 Helmer Nygaard, 94, Kenmare, formerly of Flaxton, died Sunday, July 28, 2002, in the Kenmare Hospital. Helmer was born March 27, 1908, on the family farm north of Flaxton, ND, the son of Danish immigrants, Andrew "A.J." and Margrethe (Andersen) Nygaard. He grew up there and attended school in Richland Township. As a young man he worked on the family farm. He was known to be good with the draft horses. During the Depression he worked in Montana, Washington, California, and Texas. He traveled on freight trains and sent money home to help make ends meet. In May of 1942, at age 34, he entered the United States Army Air Corps and served 40 months during World War II with the 35th Fighter Squadron in the Pacific on New Guinea and the southern Phillipines, servicing bombers. He was honorably discharged in October of 1945. He returned to Flaxton and joined his brother Norman in a farming partnership that lasted for 40 years. They were known to be farmers who could coax the land to produce above average yields. On June 15, 1948, he married Wilma Paul at Noonan, ND. They lived and farmed in the Flaxton area. Wilma died October 8, 2000. Helmer served on the Flaxton City Council and the rural Danish Cemetery Board. He was a member of the National Farming Organization, the Farmers Union and the Kenmare Senior Citizens. He was a former member of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Flaxton, and more recently, of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare. Helmer was an exceptional gardener and a nurturer of all farm animals. He took pride in keeping his surroundings tidy and free from weeds. He loved to purchase new vehicles and always drove a shiny new car and pickup. He enjoyed playing croquet in the farmyard and was a serious card player, and pool and snooker player. Survivors: Son, George A. (Pam) Nygaard, Litchfield, MN; three grandchildren, Christopher, Ruth and A.J. Nygaard; four nieces, Marcia Olney, Connie Ann Transue, Patty Ross, and Lucille Hennessy; five nephews, Leland Nygaard, Dean Urton, Robert Urton, Lloyd Urton, and Duane Sorben. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma; his parents, A.J. and Margrethe; brother, Norman and sister, Margaret Urton. Funeral: Funeral Thursday, August 1, 2002, at 10:30 a.m., at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Kenmare, ND. Visitation: Thursday, one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial: Lakeview Cemetery, Kenmare, ND. Officiant: Rev. Dick Owens Music: Ron Nelson, soloist and pianist and Jane Kalmbach, organist Active Bearers: Floyd Nelson, Darold Hansen, Chris
Lind, Etlar Jacobsen, Anders Christensen Richard Murphy |