Orlie Jerome Hellem

Orlie J. Hellem was the third son of six children born to Sever & Josephine (Johnson) Hellem on a farm in Plaza, ND. The depression caused them to relocate to Northwood, ND. His two older brothers stayed on the farm and Orlie was drafted into the Army and sent to Europe with B Troop, 41st RCN, 11th Armed Division, 3rd Army, under General Patton before and during the Battle of the Bulge, Orlie received three Battle Stars. As a radio man and knowing the Morse Code, he announced “Cease fire, the war is over!”

After 37 months, he was honorably discharged as a Tech 4. He enrolled in Hanson Auto and Technical School and became a welder in Fargo, ND.

He met his loving wife, Ruth of 65 years through friends, and love letters have been discovered that lead them to be united in marriage on May 6, 1950. Stories have been told of the rain and mud on that day at Little Bethany Church in the country in Rothsay, MN. Orlie told Ruth that he wanted to get married and have a family. They had four kids and he was very proud of the pattern of boy, girl, boy, girl.

After retirement he switched his focus to woodworking of Grandfather Clocks, furniture, and gardening. They were snowbirds for 22 years in Arizona until ill health forced them back to Fargo. He was able to go on the third “Honor Flight” from Fargo to Washington D.C. in 2007.
He was honest and hard working with a great sense of humor. Most of the time he couldn’t finish his own jokes because he was too busy laughing. He enjoyed playing guitar, accordion, harmonica and the piano.

We wish to thank Mary of Comfort Keepers and Jerret of Active at Home Helpers for their care in his final years.

Orlie was preceded in death by his parents and older brothers Vernon and Mahlon.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, Fargo; son, Larry (Lupe) Gilbert, Arizona; daughter, Janet, Fargo; son, Roger (Linda) Alpharetta, GA and daughter, Peggy, Petoskey, MI; five grandchildren and great-grandsons; sisters, Lila Roethel, St. Joseph, MI and Helen (Dick) Arnseth, Moorhead, MN and brother, Robert (Shirley) Hellem, Galesburg, IL.