Helen Christopherson

Funeral services for Helen Christopherson, 96, of the Freeborn-Hartland area, will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, September 25, 2017 at West Freeborn Lutheran Church.  The Reverend Steven Schwartz will officiate.  Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4 – 6 PM at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, as well as one hour prior to the service at the church.

Helen died Thursday, September 21, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society where she had been a resident the last two months.

Helen Alvina (Hansen) Christopherson was born on December 29, 1920 in Dexter, MN, the youngest child of Hans and Ada (Noreen) Hansen.  The family moved to the farm on the east shore of Freeborn Lake when she was 18 months old.  She grew up helping on the farm and attending District 16 School.  Her favorite stories of those years were of playing “kittenball” and various races she won.

On October 7, 1940, she was united in marriage to Herman Christopherson.  To this union, three children were born: Dale, Judy and Robert.  They farmed east of Freeborn where she worked alongside her husband.  She was a member of West Freeborn Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid.  She enjoyed her family and all the family gatherings.  Her pastimes included: embroidery, patching, and her most favorite – playing cards.

In 1976, Herman and Helen moved into Freeborn where they enjoyed several years of retirement.  In 2001, Helen moved to Hartland where she lived until 2010.  At this time, she moved to Bancroft Creek Estates where she lived until July 2017.

She is survived by one son, Dale (Jane) Christopherson of Albert Lea; one daughter, Judy (Jim) Hendrickson of Hartland; and one daughter in-law, Deborah Christopherson of Chippewa Falls, WI; grandchildren, Holly (Chris) Dahl, Douglas Christopherson, Dennis (Becky) Hendrickson, Paul (Maria) Hendrickson, Ronda (Chad) Staloch, and Gretchen Christopherson; great-grandchildren, Jade (Josh) O’Byrne, Jessa Wipplinger, Weston Dahl, Abby and Olivia Christopherson, Brooke (Mike) Van Buskirk, Cody (Katelyn) Hendrickson, Caitlyn Hendrickson, Aaron (Emily) Hendrickson, Ben (Bailey) Hendrickson, Cole, Nicklas, and Seth Staloch; 4 great-great-grandchildren, Hayden and Logan Van Buskirk, Addilyn Hendrickson, and Ava O’Byrne.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1988; her son, Robert in 2009; her parents; brother, Inghart Hansen; sister, Margaret (Serinus) Miller; sisters and brothers in-law, Gerhardt and Minnie Christopherson, Clair and Ruth Christopherson, and Orten and Violet Christopherson.