A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, MN. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 15, 2008 from 4:00-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Father Eugene Stenzel will officiate and burial will be in the Alden Cemetery in Alden with Military Honors by the Alden American Legion and the Wells Color Guard.

Wally was born March 4, 1930, the son of Peder and Lula (Gephart) Helland in Woden, IA. He attended school in Scarville, Iowa and Emmons, MN. He served in the US Army during the Korean War, spending one year in Japan. On April 16, 1955, he married Margaret Troska at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells. After serving in the Army, he worked at the Theobald Store in Alden as a meat cutter. In 1964, he purchased the Furniture and Grocery Store in Alden, which he operated until he sold it in 1993. After selling the store, he worked part-time at the Alden Co-op Elevator and drove school bus for Hemmingsen’s Transfer in Alden.

He and his wife, Margaret, wintered in Mission, Texas for 9 years. The couple took many more vacation trips — Wally enjoyed going to Las Vegas.

Wally was a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, where he served on the church council for many years and was a member of the church choir which he enjoyed very much. He was a member of the Alden American Legion, the Wells VFW, the Alden Lions Club, Alden Senior Citizens, Knights of Columbus and the Elks Club in Albert Lea.

Wally enjoyed playing cards with his friends and at the Alden Senior Citizens. He liked playing golf and was proud of getting a hole in one a few years ago. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Wally is survived by his loving wife Margaret of 53 years, of Alden, MN; 2 daughters: Brenda and her husband Ray Lund of Mankato, MN, Marilyn and her husband Dr. Randall Miller of New Albany, Ohio; 2 grandchildren: Lee and Courtney Miller; 2 sisters: Mildred Benson of Evansdale, IA, and Mabel (husband Russell) Vaale of Austin, MN; sister and brother-in-law: Helen and Arnie Skov of Alden, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law: Lester and Verlayn Helland, mother and father-in-law: Andrew and Alice Troska; and great niece, Nicole Majerus.