Olena Mary Carlson

OLENA MARY CARLSON was born to Ole and Octavia (Josephson) Knutson on November 13, 1921 in Columbia, South Dakota.When she was six years old, she moved with her family to Pipestone, Minnesota where she was raised and attended school. She left school in the eighth grade to help at home and care for her mother who was ill at that time. Olena later worked at Armour Produce in Pipestone. In 1943, she moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she worked in a laundry. She returned to Pipestone in 1945; and on November 11, 1945, she was united in marriage to Fred Helmke with whom she had four children. Olena and Fred resided in Pipestone following their marriage, and Olena worked at Armour Creamery and occasionally at a local laundry.

On December 4, 1964, Olena was united in marriage to George Carlson in Pipestone and began a new chapter in her life with the addition of George and six stepchildren. Following their marriage, they lived in Pipestone until 1968 when they moved to Brainerd, Minnesota where they owned their own business. In 1970, they moved their family to Canby, Minnesota, and Olena worked at the Variety Store there for five years. Olena later became employed by Schott Corporation in Minneota, Minnesota for five years. When she retired in 1989, Olena and George moved back to Pipestone. Olena continued to live in Pipestone after George passed away in 1994. It was in her later years that Olena was proud to have studied for and received her high school general equivalency diploma. On Monday, January 28, 2013, Olena died at the Pipestone County Hospice House at the age of 91 years, two months and 15 days.

Olena was a member of Christ the King Free Lutheran Church in Pipestone and was active in the women’s group and quilt group. She also helped at church with preschool classes and putting together church bulletins and sorting out mail to the parishioners. Olena enjoyed most the time she spent with both her family and her church family and attended all of the weddings, graduations and other events as she was able.

She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Dale Helmke and his wife Joyce of Kandiyohi, Minnesota, Annette Bernier and her husband Philip of May City, Iowa, and Shanda Larson and her husband Jeff of Osakis, Minnesota; five stepchildren, Craig Carlson and his wife Nancy of Mankato, Minnesota, Janet Stark and her husband Jim of Utica, South Dakota, Cindy Reese and her husband Mike of Woodstock, Minnesota, Fran Matteis of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Chris Gulbranson and her husband Orris of Lowry, Minnesota; as well as 24 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Fred Helmke; her second husband, George Carlson; her son, Mark Helmke; her stepdaughter, Lisa Freitag; five brothers, Ben Knutson, Carl Knutson, John “Jack” Knutson, an infant brother, Joseph Knutson, and Joe Knutson; three sisters, Georgia Bouden, Beulah Townsend, and Anne Diedrich; and beloved niece, Barbara McCurdy.