Helen Fahje, 88, Austin
Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 26, 2007
Helen Caroline Fahje, 88, of Austin died Friday, May 25, 2007, at Austin Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church with Rev. Russ Wangen officiating. Visitation will be held at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. and at the church for one hour before the service on Monday. There will be a graveside service at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Cemetery. The family prefers memorials to Grace Lutheran Church.
Fahje was born May 9, 1919, in Udolpho Township, Mower County to Henry and Olga (Klemestad) Braaten.
She was baptized, confirmed and married at the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. Helen attended the District 72 Country School near Corning. She did housework in Austin and also worked as a nurse&8217;s aid before going to work at the Geo. A. Hormel Company in 1941.
She was married to Jens Williamson on Sept. 29, 1943 and they farmed in Mower County until his death on July 31, 1945. After selling the farm she moved home with her parents. Her son Jens was born February 27, 1946.
She returned to work doing various housekeeping jobs and grading potatoes at Hollandale before returning to work at the Hormel Foods Corporation in 1950, where she worked until her retirement.
She met Martin Fahje and they were married on Dec. 8, 1957 at the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church and had two daughters, Susan and Carol. Martin preceded her in death in 1990. Helen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Helen and Martin were very active and enjoyed dancing, cooking, traveling and entertaining their families and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husbands Jens and Martin and four brothers, Harmon, Nordahl, Kenneth and Orlean Braaten.
Survived by son and daughter-in-law Jens and Bonnie Williamson of Fremont, Neb.; daughters Susan Fahje of Omaha, Neb., and Carol Fahje of Rochester; grandchildren, Neal Williamson of Fremont, Neb., Spencer and Michele Williamson of Gretna, Neb., and Jenna and Marty Gifford of Fremont, Neb.; great-grandchildren Lauren and Sam Gifford; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The organist will be Linda Anderson. Soloist will be David Wiedemann. Casket bearers will be David Braaten, Richard Braaten, Dean Braaten, Mark Braaten, Roger Nelson and Martin Fahje.