Helmer A Magnuson

Helmer A. Magnuson, 88, Bismarck, died on Monday, May 23, at his home in the Primrose Assisted Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Friday, May 27, at Church of the Ascension, Bismarck, with Rev. Marvin Klemmer officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul?s Catholic Cemetery in Hazelton. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday, May 26, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a vigil/rosary service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Helmer Aloph Magnuson was born on May 27, 1922, the son of Swedish emigrants, Oscar William and Anna Margaret Westin Magnuson, from Regan, ND. Helmer was raised on a farm and educated in Rockhill Township, near Regan. He moved with his parents and brother, George, to a farm near Driscoll in 1939. Helmer especially enjoyed the teams of horses and driving them as fast as possible with loads of hay or grain. He had a saddle horse that he liked to ride and showed many how he could stand way back from his horse and run fast and leap up on the saddle from the rear. Helmer met and married the love of his life, Helen Scherr, on February 1, 1952. They moved into Bismarck and owned a Nash Auto Company for sometime. Helmer and Helen moved to Portland, OR, in 1957, where Helmer worked for Willamette Western Corp. as a concrete truck driver for 25 years. Helen and Helmer retired in 1982, and in the winter moved to Mesa, AZ, and spent their summers in Ocean Park, WA. In 1996, they moved to Bismarck, living in Tatley Meadows Trailer Park for 11 years. Helen died September 17, 2006. Since that time, Helmer has been living at the Primrose Assisted Care Center. He enjoyed all of his many friends at Primrose and could count on Bob and Erv. Helmer was always ready to go to breakfast, lunch, or dinner with special friends for each event. Thanks to Tom Schmidt and Andy Landsberger who were happy to give Helmer a helping hand when needed. You could count on an interesting time with Helmer. He was often ready with a good joke and lots of laughter. He loved dancing and water fights with his many nieces and nephews. He enjoyed visiting with and hearing about the lives of all of his family. For many years, his special joy was the Pacific Northwest, where he spent his time camping and fishing in the lakes around Mt. Hood and deep sea fishing in the Pacific Ocean. He also enjoyed his winters in Arizona, visiting North Dakota, and an occasional trip to Prairie Knights. He is survived by his ten nieces and nephews as well as many great- nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Helen; his mother and father, Anna and Oscar Magnuson; his brother, George; and his sisters, Ida Hoge and Myrtle Olson. Memorials may be given to the Church of the Ascension or a charity of the donor?s choice.

Helmer A Magnuson

May 27, 1922 - May 23, 2011