Irene Helling, 93, of Winger, MN, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, November 11, 2011, at the Riverview Hospital, Crookston, MN. She was born on April 19, 1918, at home in Garden Township, near Winger, MN, the daughter of Oscar and Ida (Lind) Johnson.

Irene Graduated 8th grade from Lake Region Country School #114; she was confirmed at Union Lake Free Lutheran Church, Winger and was a life-long member of Dovre Free Lutheran Church, Winger.

She worked for a short time in Minneapolis and Chicago before returning to Winger. She married Eberhard (Ebe) Helling on Nov. 12, 1941 at the Dovre Parsonage in Winger. Soon after they took the train and moved to Muskegon, MI, where their first child, Jerome, was born. In 1943 they returned to a farm northeast of Winger. Two daughters, Pamela and Donna, were born during this time. Later, they moved to Irene's family farmstead near Union Lake Free Lutheran Church. She loved being a homemaker, spending time outdoors taking special care of their yard and garden, and caring for the animals, especially her sheep!

In 1967, she began working as a cook at the Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile where she cooked many tasty meals for more than 20 years. Irene was wonderful in the kitchen and made many friends during this time. She was a "baker" and loved to share a treat with those who came to visit. Her specialties included chocolate chip cookies and mud hen bars. A small piece of chocolate or something sweet was a must with a cup of coffee!

Irene was a very kind and loving wife, mom, grandma and great- grandma. A true friend to all that knew her. Her family enjoyed her surprising sense of humor when she would interject a one-liner or word unexpectedly into a conversation. Family was always first, and she enjoyed all the get-togethers and birthday celebrations at her home and at Maple Lake, as well as her trips to Florida. She always enjoyed the opportunity to help take care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. After Ebe passed away on April 21, 2003, Irene continued to live on the farm until October 10th, 2011, when she moved to Fair Meadow Nursing Home.

She is survived by her children, Jerome (Elizabeth) Helling, Plantation, FL, Pamela (Brian) Floan, Mentor, MN, Donna (Keith) Christianson, Mentor, MN, her sister, Lorraine (Robert) Lee, McIntosh, MN, grandchildren: Leah (Todd) Burke; Brigitte (Brad) Lawrence; Tyler Christianson and Blake Christianson, great-grandchildren: Kiah, Carter and Tyra Burke; Dawson and Hutton Lawrence, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, Olive Williams, Alice Vesledahl, two brothers, Albin Johnson, David Johnson, and son-in-law, Iver Moen.
God Bless her Memory….until we meet again.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 10:30 AM in the Dovre Free Lutheran Church, Winger, MN.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 15, 2011, from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM in the Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be in the Dovre Free Lutheran Cemetery, Winger, MN.