John Helland
September 18, 1902 - July 18, 2005
John A. Helland, 102, of Virginia, died Monday, July 19, 2005 at St. Michaels's Health and Rehabilitation Center in Virginia.
He was born Sept. 18, 1902, in Hoybakken, Norway, to Peder and Anna (Bjerkvik) Helland. John emigrated to the United States in 1927 and settled in Virginia, but always kept a close contact, primarily through letters, with his family in Norway. He worked as a painter for numbers painting contractors in the area, and finally as a painter for the Oliver Mining Company in 1967. John was a longtime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Virginia, and had been a member of the Sons of Norway, Haarfager Lodge 40 in Virginia for 78 years.
He is survived by one son, Arne (Susan) Helland of Virginia; three daughters, Lila (Elden) Landvik of Duluth, Audrey Kohlhase of Virginia, and Gladys Helland of Greenwich Conn.; 12 grandchildren, Erik (Dawn) Landvik, Kari (Steve) VandenHeuvel, Kirsten (John) Ryden, Evan (Charlotte) Landvik, Lisa (Randy) Landvik-Geyen, Karen (Joel) Johnson, Brian (Linda) Kohlhase, John (Lynn) Kohlhase, Anna Helland (Andrew Wilson), and Kristin Helland; 23 great-grandchildren, with the 24th expected in October; a brother, Odd (Borghild); and sister, Hjordis, all of Norway; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peder and Anna; first wife, Gudrun Enge Helland; second wife, Margarethe Swanson Helland; three sisters, Margarethe Stallvik, Malene Westerlund and Asbjorg Slette; and two brothers, Jarle and Roar.
Personal Message
To my dear Grandpa Helland, I will treasure your memory always.John Helland was a resident of Virginia from 1927 to 2005.