Gordon J. Helgeson

Gordon "Gordy" J. Helgeson, 86, of Cottonwood passed away on March 29, 2013. He was born on September 5, 1926 in Milan, Minnesota to Adolph and Elvina Helgeson. Gordon and his wife Beulah, who passed away 6 weeks prior, were married 65 years and moved to the Verde Valley in 1959. Gordon was a proud WWII veteran, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps (Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima), 2nd Armored Amphibian Battalion, from 1943-1946. He was a member of the VFW #7400 in Cottonwood. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for 40 years and retired in 1987 from P.I.E./Ryder, Salt Lake City, Utah as a line driver. Gordon and his wife enjoyed life togethertraveling, boating, fishing, camping, water-skiing, snow skiing, motorcycling and square dancing. Since retirement, Gordy was an avid golfer, a member at Verde Santa Fe Golf Club and previously at Beaver Creek Golf Resort. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and 4 brothers, Edwin, Roger, Melford and David and 3 sisters, Violet, Irene and Doris. He is survived by his daughter, Marcella Austin of Cottonwood, and 2 sons, Jerry of Cottonwood and Jim of Hot Springs, AK; 4 grandchildren, Mike (Darla) of LA, Catrina (Larry) Robertson of OK, Melissa Helgeson of AZ, and Jamie (George) Garcia of CA; 14 great-grandchildren; his sister Dorothy Wilde of MN, his nieces and nephews, Eddie (Doris) Helgeson, Dennis (Kathy) Helgeson, Clela (Jerald) Franquero and Forrest (Sue) Helgeson all of Cottonwood. He is also survived by many other nieces and nephews in Minnesota. A service will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 11:00am at Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 E. Mingus Ave, Cottonwood. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com