Funeral services for Helga Nelson, age 96, of Reeder ND, will be Monday, January 21st at 10:30 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Reeder ND with Rev. Stephanie Swanson officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery south of Reeder. Visitation will be Sunday, January 20th from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the service at the church Monday morning.


Helga Elida Nelson was born on August 21, 1911 to Carl J. and Ragna (Belboe) Winje on the farm which was seven miles south of Reeder, North Dakota. Helga was baptized at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Reeder and confirmed at the Mamre Church, which was about twelve miles south of Reeder. Helga received her education at the Lightning Creek School through her eighth grade year. After attending Lightning Creek, Helga helped her parents and brother Charlie with the farm work until she was married to Halfdan "Ole" Jacobson in 1933. Helga and Ole spent the first few months of their marriage at the home of Knute Haugen and eventually moved to their farm located about three miles east of Reeder. Helga helped Ole with the farming and also with the raising of their two daughters, Hilda, born in 1936, and Florence, born in 1941.


Helga spent many years helping with the farm, the cattle and hauling cream to the train for delivery. She was busy helping with farm work, but managed to find some time to enjoy dances, movies and card playing. Helga's biggest enjoyment came from spending time with her daughters. In 1959, tragedy struck when daughter Hilda was killed in a car accident near Alexander, North Dakota where Hilda taught. Helga continued to farm after Ole died in 1969. In 1971 Helga married George Nelson. Helga and George were founding members of the Prairie Pioneers Senior Citizen Center in Reeder and were quite active with it. Helga was also a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary of Reeder. Helga and George farmed until George died in 1981.


After George died, Helga decided it was time to sell most of the farm equipment and inventory and move to town. She lived near her daughter Florence, son-in-law Larry Jackson and their children Dan and Lisa. Helga enjoyed spending time reading, playing cards with her friends at the senior citizen center and checking in on her family. In 1996, tragedy struck again when Helga lost her remaining daughter Florence to cancer. Despite the loss, Helga continued to live on her own and have an active life with the senior citizen's center, her family and her cat. Helga stayed in her own home until the fall of 2006 when she moved to the Hillcrest Care Center, now called the Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger, North Dakota. She remained there until her death on January 17th, 2008 at West Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.


Helga E. Nelson was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Ragna Winje, her brother Charlie Winje, her husbands Halfdan "Ole" Jacobson and George Nelson, and her daughters Hilda Jacobson and Florence Jackson.


She is survived by her son-in-law Larry Jackson, one grandson, Dan (Kim) Jackson, Bismarck, ND, one granddaughter, Lisa Jackson, Kimball, SD, one great-grandson, Noah Jackson, Bismarck, ND, one step-son Robert Nelson, Dickinson, ND, one step-daughter Diane Gedman, Pittsburgh, PA, and one step-great-grandson Josh (Mandy) Lewis and their daughter Emma, Bismarck, ND.


Although Helga E. Nelson experienced losses of so many that she loved, she was always a very positive person who had a smile on her face and was willing to listen. She enjoyed people so very much.