Funeral services for Helmer Ernest Moe, 93, of Albert Lea, will be at 2 p.m., Thursday at First Lutheran Church in Glenville. The Rev. Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister will officiate. Interment will be at First Lutheran Cemetery in Glenville with military honors accorded by the Freeborn County Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.
Helmer died Monday, July 21, 2008, at Albert Lea Medical Center.
Helmer Ernest Moe was born on Nov. 19, 1914, to Andrew and Gertrude (Aune) Moe in Christine, N.D. Helmer was baptized at the Christine Lutheran Church on Dec. 25, 1914. He spent his boyhood years and attended schools in Christine and Fargo, N.D. He was confirmed at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fargo, N.D. in 1931. When Helmer was 16 years old he moved to the Glenville area where he lived with his sister Signe Granholt and her family. He worked on farms in the area until 1936 when he began working at American Gas Machine Co. in Albert Lea. Helmer was united in marriage to Beatrice Wolff on Sept. 1, 1940, at First Lutheran Church in Glenville by the Rev. A. C. Korsrud. Helmer joined the United States Army in 1943 serving during World War II. He was in the 22nd Coast Artillery and the 4th Army Headquarters in Texas. Returning from service he worked in several factories. In 1946 he built the couple’s home in Glenville. In 1948, Helmer became a self-employed carpenter, building many homes in Freeborn County, the Citizens State Bank in Glenville and doing cabinet-work in his later years. Helmer was an active member of the First Lutheran Church since 1940. He served as a deacon, treasurer, and was on the building committee for the parsonage and the church along with many other repair projects. He also helped organize the dart-ball club and couples club. He served as an usher at many funerals. Helmer was a member of the American Legion Post 264 of Glenville since 1946 and served as the commander, and also a county commander, and belonged to 40 & 8 in Albert Lea also its Chef-de-Gere. He belonged to the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America of Local 766 as a charter member for 46 years. Helmer was a member of the Glenville Boosters Club, Glenville Senior Citizens, and also the Senior Citizens Bowling League in Albert Lea. Helmer enjoyed all young people’s sports, especially their nieces and nephews, traveling by motorcoach, woodworking and after semi retirement he loved to golf, bowl and play pool. Helmer was a devoted Christian who loved his work and enjoyed the fellowship of others and those at the “coffee shop” each morning.
Survivors include his wife, Bea; brother-in-law, LuVerne Wolff; sister-in-law, Audrey Mehus; nephew, Palmer Granholt; nieces, Gertrude Gaarder, and Gladys Westrum; “special families,” Bill and Pat Avery and their children, Jennifer and Allen Lego, Mya, Jada, Keira and Alexa Lego, Megan and T.J. Flatness; Cindy and Gene Davis and their children, Justin and Jaime Davis, Garrett Davis and Kailey Davis; Doug and Kelly Mehus and their children, Alyssa and Aaron; Scott and Laurie Mehus and their children, Andrew and Kenmund; many other nieces, nephews; great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Helmer was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eddie, Arthur and Henry Moe; three brothers in infancy; sister, Signe Granholt; great-nephews, Ronald Granholt and Adam Davis; niece, Cheryl Rehder; and several brothers and sisters-in-law.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the First Lutheran Cemetery of Glenville or World Hunger.