Richard E. Helland, age 65, of Henderson, Nev., died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002, of cancer at Nathan Adelson Hospice.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 23, at 1:30 p.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thompson, Iowa. The Rev. Ted Gullixson will officiate the service. Inurnment will be in the West Prairie Cemetery with military rites by the Thompson VFW and Legion.

In lieu of flowers, Richard requested all memorials be given to the Alzheimer’s Research Institute.

Richard Helland was born Sept. 29, 1936, the son of Silas and Blanche (Bakke) Helland. The family lived on a farm near Thompson. He grew up, attended school and church in Thompson, and graduated from Thompson High School in 1954.

Richard entered the United States Navy in 1955. He was a career Navyman, retiring after 23 years of service with the rank of Chief. During his years in the Navy, Richard did what he loved best, traveling the world.

On May 4, 1957, he married Hazel Hyde. From this union four children were born. Richard and Hazel divorced in 1988. On March 2, 1992, he married Frances Abbott.

Richard continued to work up until the time of his death. He traveled all over the United States doing quality control for nuclear power plants. Richard loved to laugh, visit with family, and joke around. He loved his family very much. His laughter and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Helland of Henderson, Nev.; four children: Rick Helland and his fiance, Blanca, of McKinney, Texas, Wendy Bunch and her husband, Jim, of Krum, Texas, Lynette Helland of Ramona, Calif., and Deidra Howland and her husband, Alan, of Sante, Calif.; two sisters: Beverly Olson King and her husband, Bill, of Albert Lea, and Vivian Green and her husband, Allen, of Allison, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Bill Peterson of St. Paul; five grandchildren: Jake and Jesse Foster of Ramona, Calif., Christopher Bunch of Krum, Texas, Silas McNeil of Silverdale, Wash., Amy Heun of Arizona, and Heather McNiel of

Maracope, Ariz.; two step-grandchildren: Tyler and Jessica Howland of Michigan; one great-granddaughter, Jade Heun; one stepson, Odin Abbott; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Kathryn Peterson in 1999; a brother-in-law, Orvis Olson; and an infant nephew.