Obit: Helgerson, Mary M. (1932 - 2009) 

Contact: History Buffs 

Surnames: Helgerson, Zahrt, Kluever, Watts, Ford, Dahl, Warner 
 

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Monday, 6 July 2009 
 

Helgerson, Mary M. (2 Mar. 1932 - 4 July 2009) 
 

Mary M. Helgerson, 77, of Chili died peacefully July 4, 2009, at the House of Dove, Marshfield. She was born March 2, 1932, along with a twin brother, Maynard, in Wausau to the late Frank and Alma (Zahrt) Kluever Sr. 
 

Mary graduated from Wausau East High School after which she attended and graduated from Grant Hospital of Nursing in Chicago. She was employed by the obstetrical department of Memorial Hospital of Wausau for several years. 
 

She married Donald Helgerson on Aug. 24, 1956. Mary continued nursing services at Memorial Hospital and General Hospital in East Lansing, Mich., from 1956 to 1958. 
 

Mary resided in Marshfield for about five years; thereafter she moved to the town of Rock near Lindsey in 1963. Besides raising a family of three children: Jane Watts of Southampton, England, Lynn Ford of Granton and John Helgerson of Chili, she helped manage a Christmas tree farm near Lindsey. Mary served a number of years as town of Rock treasurer, as ballot clerk at elections and census polling for this area. She was active with 4-H projects in her early years. She enjoyed gardening and tending to nursery trees and spent a great deal of time keeping track of the tree crew during shearing times and Christmas season. Mary loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren romp around and grow. 
 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church, 11284 US Highway 10W, Nasonville. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The Rev. Jeanne Warner will officiate. Visitations will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hansen Funeral Home, Marshfield, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church. 
 

Survivors include her husband, Don, of Chili and three children: Jane (Adam) Watts of England, Lynn (Mike Sr.) Ford of Granton and John (Jayne) of Chili; six grandchildren, Michael A. Jr. Ford, Jacob (Becky) Ford, Katie Ford, Jesse Helgerson, Aliegh Helgerson of Chili and Liberty Watts of England; three great-grandchildren, Nathan Ford, Zander Dahl, children of Katie Ford, and Lillian Ford, daughter of Jacob and Becky Ford of Marshfield. 
 

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Alma Kluever and two brothers, Frank Jr. and Maynard Kluever of Wausau. 
 

Mary's family would like to thank the personnel of Saint Joseph's palliative care unit, Marshfield Care Center and House of Dove for the extended care they provided for her comfort. 
 

Memorials may be directed toward the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation and the Grace Lutheran Memorial Fund.