Helmer C. Falk

A family visitation for Helmer Falk of Salol, MN following MN St. Covid Guidelines with social distancing, capacity limits and face coverings will be held on Friday, November 20, 2020 from 2-4 PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN. Interment will be held at Spruce Cemetery.

Helmer C. Falk passed away on Friday, November 13, at the age of 98. He was born October 19, 1922, in Salol, Minnesota to John and Alma (Nilsson) Falk. Helmer was the youngest of four children. Although he had only an eighth grade education at the country school north of Salol, he became a self-taught artist who loved painting in oils, especially pictures of animals and ships at sea. He bought land and farmed north of Salol. On June 14, 1945, Helmer married Velma Lieberg, who was a teacher at the country school. They were involved in a car/train accident in 1969 which took Velma’s life and which Helmer was fortunate to survive. A couple of years later he married Kelly Christianson and moved to Roseau. In the 1970’s he bought more land and expanded his farm. He loved to see the farm grow and to spend time dealing with the machine dealers in town. Helmer was always the happiest when he, in HIS mind, got the better end of the deal. After retiring, he traveled a good deal, going south every winter with his fifth wheel camper. The last few years he was still able to travel, his companion, Mabel Svitak, joined him on his travels. They enjoyed a lot of dancing, card playing, and socializing wherever they went. When Helmer’s traveling days ended, he moved back to his home in Salol. He added an attached garage where he was able to spend time just tinkering. His dog, Tipper, went everywhere with him and added a lot of joy to his life. Eventually, Helmer moved to assisted living in Roseau. After a fall resulted in a broken hip, he moved to the nursing home. He never complained about having to go there, and he enjoyed all the attention he received from the nursing staff, who he referred to as his “girlfriends”.

Helmer was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alma; his wife, Velma; brothers, Gunnar and Bennie; sister, Ruth; sisters-in-law, Lilly Falk and Louise Falk; and brother-in-law, Gerald Maltais.

He is survived by his children, Roger (Ellyn) Falk, Bruce (Mary Jo) Falk, and Cindy (Allen) Brandt; grandchildren, Kim Calder, Paulette Stoskopf, Kristin Ellenson, Derek Brandt, Jake Brandt, Allison Thureen and Amy Thureen; twelve great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

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