Gilma F. Helgeland, age 90, of Bricelyn, died Friday, April 18, 2008, at her home in Bricelyn, surrounded by her family. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.

Burial will be in the Bricleyn Lutheran Cemetery, Seely Township, Faribault County. The Revs. Patricia Hinkie and Edward Nieman will officiate.

Gilma Francis Hylland was born to Nels and Grace (Schieffelbein) Hylland Dec. 1, 1917, on her grandparent&8217;s farm near Scarville, Iowa. Gilma was baptized at North Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Scarville, Iowa, Jan. 1, 1918. Gilma affirmed her faith June 26, 1932, at Center Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, Iowa.

Gilma was raised on a farm south of Scarville. She attended country grade school and graduated from Lake Mills High School, and then taught country school in the Lake Mills school district for two years.

Gilma married Oscar Skogen; to this marriage three children were born. They lived in California where Gilma worked in the San Francisco shipyards as a welder during World War II. Following a divorce, Gilma returned to the Midwest and taught country school in the Bricelyn area. She married Norman Helgeland Jan. 25, 1947, in Scarville, Iowa; to this marriage two children were born. Norman and Gilma lived on a farm near Bricelyn where Gilma gardened, sewed, baked, canned and made delicious meals. Gilma loved to entertain and the house often smelled of fresh baked goods. Norman and Gilma enjoyed many fishing trips during their marriage.

An excellent card player, Gilma was in many card clubs and often won local tournaments. She also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and reading books. Gilma did lots of needlework; she crocheted beautiful tablecloths, afghans and baby blankets and made quilts for her children and grandchildren.

Gilma was active in the Bricelyn Lutheran Church. She and Tilli Aamodt started the Willing Workers, and she was active in Dorcas sewing group, taught Sunday school, led circle Bible studies and helped serve food for many occasions.

Norman and Gilma moved into Bricelyn in October of 1991. Norman died July 21, 1999.

Gilma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters: Andrina Oulman and Alma Hylland, five brothers: Gerhard, Raymond, Henry, Laurence, and Paul Hylland.

Gilma is survived by two sons: Robert Skogen of Two Harbors, Dale (and Sue) Helgeland of Leland, Iowa; three daughters: JoAnn (and David) Moran of Richfield, Orean (and Larry) Yahnke of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Nancy (and Neal) Solomonson of Ostrander; seventeen grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by five sisters-in-law: Esther Hovland of Blue Earth, Agnes Lodden of Humboldt, Iowa, Vivian (and Cy) Olson of Albert Lea, Elna Hylland of Lake Mills, Iowa, and Ruth Hylland of Scarville, Iowa.