Helen Hilgendorf

Funeral services for Helen M. Hilgendorf, 95, of Alexandria, MN, formerly of Fairmont, MN, will be held Friday, June 9, at 11:00 AM at Zaharia Family Funeral and Cremation Service in Truman, MN with Rev. Larry C. Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgelawn Memorial Park, rural Truman. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Hilgendorf died Sunday, June 4, at Alexandria Assisted Living in Alexandria, MN. Helen Marie Adeline Johnson, the daughter of Chris and Edith (Ogren) Johnson, was born April 12, 1922, in Galena Township, Martin County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Waverly Lutheran Church in Waverly Township, Martin County. Helen received her education at rural school District 88 and graduated from Tri-Mont High School in 1939. On October 27, 1940, Helen married James M. Hilgendorf at Waverly Lutheran Church. They made their home and farmed in Waverly Township and were active members of Waverly Lutheran Church. In 1954, Jim started his career as a broadcaster at WCCO Radio in Minneapolis and the couple and their three sons moved to Bloomington and later Edina. Helen was busy supporting her husband’s active career and raising their three boys. Helen and Jim made their retirement home in Mesa, AZ for many years before returning to Fairmont, MN in 1989. During retirement, they traveled extensively both here and abroad. Following Jim’s death in 2006, Helen made her home in Alexandria, MN where she was a member of First Lutheran Church. She was a quiet woman with a strong faith and fervent love and devotion to her family. Helen is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Jan of Shipshewana, IN, Keith and Carol of Mesa, AZ and Gregory and Helen Jane of Alexandria, MN; one grandson, Peter Hilgendorf of Seattle, WA; two granddaughters, Allison Arndt and her husband, Nathan of St. Bonifacius, MN and Betsy Hilgendorf of Louisville, CO. Great-grandchildren, Van and Sylvie Hilgendorf of Seattle, WA and Maxwell and Henry Arndt of St. Bonifacius, MN. Sisters, Lorraine Johnson, of Sandstone, MN; Arlene Krusemark, of St. Peter, MN; brother, Lowell Johnson, of St. James, MN and four nephews and three nieces. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by grandson, Thomas Hilgendorf, brothers-in-law, Meryle Krusemark, and Lester Johnson, sister-in-law Germaine Johnson, and niece, Nancy Kruse. Condolences may be left at www.zahariafamilyfuneral.com