Helen Tollefson

Helen Bergette Schansberg was born October 25, 1916, to Haakon and Hannah (Ness) Schansberg of Blair, WI, and died Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Elim Care Facility in Fargo. Helen graduated from Blair High School and then attended the Gale Institute in Galesville, WI. She worked as a bookkeeper at Nicolas Clothing in Minneapolis. On October 15, 1939, she married Milton Eggan in Blair and a daughter, Judy, was born to them. After Milt’s death in 1943, Helen worked for General Mills in Minneapolis in the Aeronautical Research Division where weather balloons were made and launched. Helen would proudly proclaim that she worked with the team who invented Cheerios cereal. Helen met Carrol Tollefson while he was a student at Luther Seminary in St. Paul and they married August 9, 1952. After his ordination in 1953, the family moved to Fillmore where Carrol would serve a four-point parish. Three daughters were soon added: Mary, Rebecca, and Martha. In 1958, the family moved to Enderlin where all four girls were actively involved in school and church music groups; Helen and Carrol attended every event and enjoyed the fellowship of a loving community. In 1975, the family moved to Fargo, where Helen was a treasurer for the WELCA and an active member of the Joanna Circle, the Quilters’ Guild, and First Lutheran Quilters. She volunteered at MeritCare and was a lifetime member of the Auxiliary. Among her many favorite groups was the Wednesday Fellowship at First Lutheran Church; she enjoyed worship and fellowship time weekly. Helen’s spiritual faith was the rock of her life. She willingly shared her faith by leading countless Bible studies and bringing prayers to any group which had the privilege of listening in on her heartfelt conversation with her God. Taught by her beloved mother Hannah, Helen made countless beautiful quilts over the years. Helen played piano for every church with which she was involved and accompanied countless soloists. For many years, all the children ages 3-5 at First Lutheran Church knew her and daughter Becki from Preschool Chapel. Helen celebrated her Scandinavian heritage (100% Norwegian and prone to the occasional teasing of her 50% Swede husband, Carrol), and at Christmas time she treated everyone to an abundance of homemade Scandinavian goodies. Helen is survived by her husband, Carrol; daughters, Judy Coughlin, Mary Carlson, Becki Tollefson, and Martha Tollefson, all Fargo; grandson, Mark Coughlin, Fargo; granddaughters, Julie (Donnie) Becker, West Fargo, Janelle (Lance) Kistner, Sabin, Shanna (Osvaldo de la Torre) Carlson, Ithaca, NY, Elisa (Yoran) Marchione, Thompson, and Andresa Carlson, Fargo; great-granddaughters, Ava Kistner and Kiera Becker; sister, Hjordis Anderson, Winnipeg, Manitoba; sister-in-law, Clarice Weigel, Minot; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Milton Eggan; brothers, Alden Schansberg and Robert Westerlund; sisters, Irene Benson and Lucille Westerlund; and granddaughter, Melissa Carlson. The family wishes to thank everyone involved in Helen’s care both at MeritCare and at Elim, modeling the behavior and echoing the heartfelt sentiments that Helen expressed to every person who entered her life. The family expresses its thanks also for the prayer support. Thanks be to our God for the gift of knowing Helen. We know she rests in the palm of God’s hand. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Concordia College Music Department in Moorhead, MN, or to First Lutheran Church Quilters’ Group in Fargo, ND. Funeral Service: Friday, March 5, 2010, at 2:00 PM, at First Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Prayer Service: Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 7 PM at Hanson-Runsvold. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.