Ben Helfritz
Funeral Held
February 5

Willie Ben Helfritz, better known as Ben Helfritz, son of Otto and Sigurid Helfritz, was born March 28, 1885 in St. Ansgar. His mother died when he was three years of age and he was raised by his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Thorson at St. Ansgar.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith there and also attended the grade school and Seminary in St. Ansgar.

He came to Lyle in 1907 where he bought a dragline business which he operated for fifty years and retired in 1960 due to failing health.

On June 30, 1909 he was united in marriage to Lizzie Olson of Lyle. She preceded him in death January 28, 1933.

Mr. Helfritz was Lyle Constable for thirty-seven years, served on the Lyle Volunteer Fire Department for many years and also served on the Town Council.

He lived in Lyle until his health failed then made his home with his two sons, Delmar and Russell in Austin, and the past year was in a Rest Home there.

He died at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin February 3 from a heart attack where he had been a patient for about two weeks following a light stroke.

Services were held at Worleins Funeral Home Tuesday, February 5, with the Rev. Melvin Hauge of St. Olaf Lutheran church officiating, with interment in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Mona. Pallbearers were his grandsons.

Survivors are three daughters, (Hazel) Mrs. Orville Neverseth, Lyle; (Gladys) Mrs. Harold Jorgenson, Jackson Minn.; (Lois) Mrs. Harvey Quindt, Orlando, Florida; four sons, Otta of Ringsted, Iowa and Russell, Delmar and Robert, all of Austin; nineteen grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lizzie and an infant son and daughter.

Friends and relatives attending were from Charles City Clarion, Ringsted, Stacyville Otranto, Iowa and Grand Meadow, Spring Valley, and Austin, Minn.