Henry O. Helm

Henry O. Helm, age 98, of Glendive, Montana, was called home on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at the Glendive Medical Center. He died after surgery for a broken hip. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday February 9, 2008 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor James Hageman officiating. Interment will be in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements. Henry was born on October 13, 1909 at Plaza, North Dakota, the son of Andrew and Lydia (Geyer) Helm. At age three he moved with his family to Yates and three years later the Helm’s purchased a farm south of Beach in the Thelan Community. Henry attended country school at Thelan and then helped his father on the farm. Henry's father was a founder of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where Henry was confirmed and a member for nearly 40 years. Henry was united in marriage in 1931 to Lydia Meyer in Wibaux. To this marriage of 68 years they had three boys; James, Dean and Neil. The family moved into Beach in 1941 where Henry worked in the coal dock during the war. When the REA came in 1947, Henry became an electrician and worked bringing electricity for the first time to many of the local farms and ranches. In 1956 Henry and Lydia moved to Glendive where he worked for local electricians until his retirement. In Glendive they were members of Our Savior Lutheran Church. After Lydia’s death in 1999, he moved to the Grandview Retirement Center and the last five years he lived at the Heritage Center in Glendive. Henry was given a saxophone as a teenager and basically played it every week for over eighty years, up to and including the week of his death. With his sister Vera Helm Schroeder on the piano they started playing popular music and assembled other local musicians into a dance band that played at local halls during the depression. They played at virtually every local high school prom and Beach civic event from the 1930's to the 1960's. Henry and Vera furnished the music at Jack's Club in Wibaux most Saturday nights for over 25 years. After moving to Glendive, Henry joined local bands including the Mellowtones, The Over The Hill Gang and finally the Kitchen Band. They would play for all occasions, especially for senior citizens at retirement centers in the recent years. On fifth Sundays, Henry would play with the organist at Our Savior Lutheran Church. In addition to his music, Henry enjoyed flying light planes. He solo'd in the 1930's and flew for 50 years. In the 50's and early 60's he had an arrangement with Dr. Bush of Beach to fly patients who needed extra care to larger hospitals as far away as the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Henry is joined in death by his wife Lydia; his two oldest sons, James and Dean; his sister, Marie Helm Abraham; brother, Ernie Helm; grandson, Douglas Helm and daughter-in-law, Lydia Helm. He is survived by his son, Neil (Fonya) of Cabin John, Maryland; his sister, Vera Schroeder of Platteville, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Carrie Meyer of Wibaux; daughter-in-law, Darlene Helm of Colonial Beach, Virginia; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Henry was always pleased when he could see folks dancing and enjoying his music. He had a good wit, was a great joke teller and basically enjoyed people. Memorials are suggested to Our Savior Lutheran Church or your local musical band program.

Henry O. Helm

October 13, 1909 - February 9, 2008

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Henry O. Helm

October 13, 1909 - February 9, 2008

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support