Jack M. Helgesen

Jack M. Helgesen OGDEN - Jack Manley Helgesen, 84, died Sunday, November 16, 2008, of natural causes at his home in Ogden. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, and he will be greatly missed. Jack was born May 11, 1924 to Hans Anton and Frances Sherman Helgesen of Ogden. He graduated from Ogden High School and joined World War II as a brave navigator of a B-17 bomber in the U. S. Army Air Corp, Eighth Air Force, stationed in England. He married Lorraine Pledger, “the most beautiful girl” he had ever seen, on July 17, 1945. They later eternalized their vows in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. After the war, Jack continued his military service for twenty-eight years in the Air Force Reserve and retired as a Lt. Colonel and a Deputy Commander of the 945th Air Lift Group at Hill Air Force Base. As a civilian at Hill Air Force Base, he was one of two employees who created the missile program at Hill, and he retired as a section chief in the Minuteman Missile division. Jack’s patriotism and devotion to our country never faded, and he was honored several times in recent years as one of our nation’s heroes. Jack was always learning. While working full time, he graduated from Weber State College. He continued his education for many years at the prestigious Air Force War College in Alabama and the National War College in Washington, D.C., eventually earning a Master’s degree. He read and studied all his life. His understanding of people, governments, nations and wars made him very useful in the many organizations he joined. He served for twenty years on the Civil Service Review Board, was a chapter chairman of the International Society of Logistics Engineers, and was a President of the Hill A. F. B. Administrative club. In recent years, he worked tirelessly as the President and manager of the Rolling Hills Swimming Club. Jack had many good friends and they were a happy part of his life. Many of his friends were in the Ogden 64th Ward, where Jack was a High Priest. He loved and lived his religion. Jack’s greatest devotion was to his family. He lived every day to be with them, talk with them, laugh with them, travel with them, and help them. Surviving him are his best friend and wife Lorraine, and his three children and their companions: Jack C. Helgesen and his wife Koy, Anne Carver and her husband Robert T. Carver, and Jill Roberts and her husband Ron K. Roberts. He also leaves behind a sister, Frances Young and her husband Viron J.Young, twelve grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and one child, Karen Helgesen. His family expresses profound appreciation to Dr. Grant Holland, Dr. Steven Cain and the many physicians and nurses who assisted God in extending Jack’s life and joy for the last thirty years. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 21, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends are invited to visit with the family at the mortuary on Thursday, November 20, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment, Aultorest Memorial Park in Ogden where Military Honors will be accorded by the Combined Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to a local charity for those in need. Send condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com