Daniel Helle
Beloved father, husband, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend, Daniel Hans Helle, passed away on March 19, 2024 in Waconia, MN.
Daniel was born on March 20, 1929 in Deer Park Twp., Pennington County, MN, to Janette Olive (Jacobsen) and John D. Helle. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church of Thief River Falls, MN and was confirmed at St. Pauli Lutheran Church of Hazel, MN. Dan attended Country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Lincoln Highschool, Thief River Falls, in 1948.
After high school, Dan worked various jobs until he was drafted into the Army, May 4, 1951, at Fargo, ND. He was discharged May 5, 1953, and transferred into the Ready Reserve on May 6, 1953, where he served for five years. After his hitch in the army, he returned to Thief River Falls and worked for the American Republic Ins. Co. as a sales rep for two years. In 1945, he partnered with Les Snetting and built a mobile home park and started mobile home sales business. In the following years they built two more mobile home parks, one in Thief River Falls and one in Warren, MN.
In 1960, Dan married Zoe Ann Dill from Holt, MN, and they made their home in the mobile home park until 1968 when they built a home in the north of town. He and Zoe Ann had three boys, Stephen, Michael and Christopher. In 1970, Dan and Les decided to divide the business and each go on their own. Dan then built Countryside Mobile Home Park while continuing in mobile home sales. In 1986, he sold the parks and semi-retired except for some hobby farming (about 300 acres) and he along with his brother-in-law Ernie purchased the Falls Clinic and turned it into a mall and apartments. In 1997, he retired from farming and soon after sold the mall.
Dan also served on the Penn County Fair board and was President for 3 years. He was a member of the American Legion for over 50 years. He also was on the Exec. Building Counsel for the Methodist Church including being very active in all activities of the church.
Dan and Zoe enjoyed traveling all over the country in their motorhomes. He loved life at the lake owning cabins on Eagle Lake near Park Rapids and Pickerel Lake near Fergus Falls. He loved spending time with his family and so looked forward to cabin weekends, he was always calling to see “what time would we be here”. Dan loved driving his pontoon on cocktail cruises around Pickerel Lake with his friends and family. He enjoyed hobbies, including snowmobiling and until recent years his annual deer hunting trip and fishing trip to Lake of the Woods with his sons and his friends. Dan also spent many years RVing at the MN State Fair with whoever would stay with him. He will be dearly missed.
Dan was predeceased by his wife Zoe Ann; son Michael; mother Janette; father John; brothers Norman, Harvey and Lester; sisters Laura and Alice.
Dan is survived by his loving family: sons Stephen (Dawn), Chris; brother Gerald; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Arrangements for Daniel will be held April 5, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Thief River Falls, MN. A visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service and burial directly after.
Arrangements are with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia. 952-442-2121 www.johnsonfh.com
