Williams - Robert Helland, 74, died Monday, December 25, 2000 at Valley Lutheran Hospital in Mesa, Ariz.
A memorial service was held on Friday, December 29, at 10 a.m. at Bunker's Desert View Chapel in Mesa. Burial was in Mountain View Memorial Gardens in Mesa.
Robert Leslie Helland was born on November 17, 1926 at Gonvick, the son of Clarence and Inez Helland. He graduated from Bemidji State Teachers College worked as a civil engineer for the Minnesota Highway Department until his retirement in 1983.
On June 5, 1954, Robert married Marcella Victoria Schmidt from Red Lake Falls. The couple lived in Crookston until 1962 when they moved to Thief River Falls. After Robert's retirement in 1983, they moved to Zippel Bay near Williams. Marcella died in October of 1991.
After meeting companion Gloria Malmo of Saginaw, Michigan, Robert and Gloria wintered in Apache Junction, Ariz.
He was an active member of Blue Lodge Mason Northern Lodge 236 A.F. U A.M. and a member of the Shrine Oriental Band.
Survivors include two sons, Steven M. and Samuel T. Helland; two daughters, Donna M. Julius and Mary Jo Christianson; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Marjorie Gustafson; and his companion, Gloria Jean Malmo of Saginaw, Mich.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and a brother, Harvey. A00003B2000JA03