REVEREND KENNETH J. HELGESEN
Sioux Falls, SD
Died: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Aurora, CO
Age: 94 years, 4 months, 20 days

VISITATION
Begins 12:00 PM Friday, January 15, 2010
George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, SD
The family will greet friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

CHRISTIAN BURIAL SERVICE
1:00 PM Saturday, January 16, 2010
Hills of Rest Memorial Park, Sioux Falls, SD

CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION
AND KEN’S LIFE
2:00 PM Saturday, January 16, 2010
First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD
Reverend David Johnson and Reverend LeeRoy Eikanger, Officiating
Michael Elsbernd, Organist
Congregational Hymns
“Lift High the Cross”, ELW #660, verses 1,2,4
“I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”, ELW #732
“How Great Thou Art”, ELW #856, verses 1,3,4
“Lead On, O King Eternal”, ELW #805

PALLBEARERS
Ken’s Beloved Grandchildren
Brian Waggoner ~ Eric Waggoner ~ Joel Waggoner
Aaron Waggoner ~ Daniel Helgesen ~ Peter Helgesen
Jill Paulsen ~ Anne Paulsen Cole ~ Kent Helgesen

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Milt and Doris Berg ~ Glenyce DeGeest ~ Ed and Harriet Eastwold
Inge Erdmann ~ Peg Haygeman ~ Wally and Opal Iverson
Judy Johnson ~ LaRoy and Adeline Peters
Paul and Lorna Sanders ~ Lois Skaar

A life of Christian ministry and service dedicated to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to an end on December 30, 2009. He was a remarkable servant to all he touched.

Kenneth Joel Helgesen was born August 10, 1915 on a dairy farm in Mt. Horeb, WI to Paul and Helga Helgesen. He was baptized September 12, 1915 and confirmed his faith June 8, 1930. He attended Lukken one room school through eighth grade and graduated from Mt. Horeb High School in 1933. After his father became ill, he and his younger brothers operated their dairy farm. He graduated from the U of WI-Eau Claire, WI in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree as a member of Kappa Delta Pi.

He was united in marriage to Esther L. Hendrickson on April 12, 1941. They moved to Eleva, WI where Kenneth was a science and math teacher in the high school and later principal of the Eleva high school and elementary school. His work in Eleva was cut short in 1942 when he was called to be a part of the greatest generation. Basic training took place at Camp Crowder, MO and officer’s training at Red Bank, NJ. CPT Helgesen served four years as a Cryptographic Security Officer with the 20th AAF Signal Corps.

Kenneth attended Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and was ordained June 5, 1949 in New Effington, SD. He completed graduate work at the U of MN and Garrett Seminary, Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

Pastor and Esther Helgesen served a four-point parish in New Effington, SD (1949-1953), Riverside Lutheran in Dawson, MN (1953-1959), and Grace Lutheran in Sioux Falls, SD (1959-1982). He joined First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD as Visitation Pastor from 1984-1996.

During his ministry, Kenneth served on local and district committees for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was a leader in Bible Camp ministry, served on boards of Luther Manor, Good Samaritan Village, Lutheran Social Services of SD and the RSVP. He was a member of the Ministerial Association, PTA, Augustana College Fellows, Retired Pastors Association and the YMCA. Ken and Esther together conducted numerous tours to the Holy Land, Scandinavia and Hawaii. They traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Japan.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Ingrid Waggoner and her husband, David, Aurora, CO, Dr. John Helgesen and his wife, Vicki, Overland Park, KS, Kristine Paulsen and her husband, Larry, Eden Prairie, MN, Marc Helgesen and his wife, Masumi, Sendai, Japan; his grandchildren, Brian Waggoner and his wife, Heidi, Eric Waggoner and his wife, Kate, Joel Waggoner and his wife, Shelly, Aaron Waggoner and his wife, Julie, Daniel Helgesen and his wife, Jeannie, Peter Helgesen and his wife, Melissa, Jill Paulsen, Anne Paulsen Cole and her husband, Donald, Kent Helgesen; 11 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Kenneth, Payton, Gavin, Lauren, Luke, Allison, Zachariah, Joshua, Blake and Charlie; his siblings, Rev. Gil Helgesen, Rev. Russ Helgesen, Phil Helgesen, Laurie Paulson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Ken is thankful to be reunited with his loving wife of 59 years, Esther; his parents, Paul and Helga; and a sister, Ila Wollum

Ken’s family requests that memorials be directed to Habitat for Humanity of Sioux Falls or the First Lutheran Church Media Ministry.

TAKK FOR ALT. . .for your friendship, love, support and witness throughout the years.