Marjorie Kelly Helland
Marjorie Helen Kelly Helland, 87, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family in Wisconsin Dells on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, after a long illness.
She was born on Feb. 20, 1921, in Minneapolis, Minn. and was adopted as an infant and only child by her beloved parents, Harold and Magdelene Lundberg. She graduated at the top of her class from South High, where she co-edited the school paper with her life-long friend and future sister-in-law, Berniece Kelly. She majored in journalism at the University of Minnesota, where she wrote a sports column for the Minnesota Daily. She became the first female reporter at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch to work outside of the society pages.
As assistant publicity director for Pan-American Airlines, she lived in New York City and traveled extensively throughout post war Europe promoting the expansion of trans-Atlantic routes. She married hotelier William J. (Bill) Kelly in November 1951 and worked alongside him in the family business for the next 15 years at the Androy Hotel in Superior and the Dellview Hotel and Resort in Lake Delton. After a move to Hopkins, Minn., she worked for Roland Minda & Associates and then opened her own public relations firm, Kelly Communications.
After Bill's death in 1980, she married Attorney Hans O. Helland of Wisconsin Dells in December 1982, joining two families that had been close friends for many years. She and Hans enjoyed witnessing the growth of 12 grandchildren, life along the Wisconsin River, traveling and spending holidays with their family. Marjorie was a life-long volunteer as a Brownie Leader, Minnesota Chapter president of the Public Relations Society of America and a mentor to many young professionals, chair of the publicity committee for the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra Ball, a board member of the Kilbourn Public Library and 36th president of the Legal Auxiliary of Wisconsin. She was awarded the IWANOM ("I was a newspaperman once myself") Medal by the Twin Cities Newspaper Guild. She gave her time and expertise to the Minnesota Opera, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome awareness and charitable organizations helping unwed mothers and served with Hans on the advisory board for the University of Wisconsin Paul Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center. Marjorie was a devout Catholic, an avid reader and bridge player who had a large circle of friends, a keen intellect and a sense of adventure and curiosity about the world, which for her remained centered around her husband and family.
She is survived by her husband Hans O. Helland; two daughters, Kathleen Kelly of Yarmouth, Maine, Peggy Kelly (Christopher Van Wagner) of Madison; six stepchildren, Karen (Paul) Tate of Pocatello, Idaho, Peter Helland of South Bend, Ind., Kristin Helland of Wisconsin Dells, Eric (Mary) Helland of Wisconsin Dells, Jon (Jodee) Helland of Madison, and Kai (Mike) Mulford of Rockford, Ill.; 12 grandchildren, Norah, Daniel, Mollie, Bill, Emily, Mary Kate, Max, Hans, Josie, Will, Cam and Olivia; nieces and nephews; and a favorite cousin, Lyle Dorfner, of Minneapolis, Minn.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 604 Oak St., in Wisconsin Dells at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 with Msgr. Felix Oehrlein and Fr. Eugene "Bud" Hollfelder co-celebrating. Visitation will be at the church from 4 to 7 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 26 and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m.
Friends may contribute to St. Cecilia's Millennium Fund, P.O. Box 356, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, the UW Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., K4/658, Madison, WI 53792-6164 or Friends of the Kilbourn Public Library, 620 Elm St., Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965.
The Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Lake Delton assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.