Harris Gordon Helgeson (79), after a long illness, passed away on July 18, 2024, at a Seattle Hospital, surrounded by his family. Born on June 30, 1946, to Gordon and Irene Helgeson in Crosby, North Dakota, he leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, music, and service.
Harris is survived by his wife, Jayne, four sons Lane, Chad, Christopher and Matthew, step-daughter Willow, eleven grandchildren Devin, Dillon, John, Addie, Brenna, Katherine, Eli, Jackson, Erik, Barrett, and Daniel, and many, many friends.
Harris’ family, when he was young, moved to Browning, Montana, where he grew up and eventually graduated from high school in 1964. He then attended Montana State University and Eastern Montana State College.
Knowing that he was going to be drafted in the Vietnam War, he enlisted instead and joined the US Air Force where he was trained to, and worked on, the electronics in B52 Bombers in Thailand. After four years of military service, he moved to Spokane where he owned and operated a music nightclub.
This was consistent with his lifelong love of listening to music, playing music, learning how to play musical instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, accordion, clarinet, and penny whistle, and collecting as many of these instruments as he could. Harris loved music!
Harris loved to serve and be around people, pursuing a long career with World Book Encyclopedia and other salesmen positions. In 1990, he became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Eventually, he moved to Woodinville and has been a member of the Cottage Lake Ward there.
The Boy Scouts of America also held a special place for Harris. Joining the Scouts at an early age, he stayed active with this program throughout his life. He served as a Unit Commissioner, and was a Boy Scout leader for Troop 525 for many decades. He loved the Scouting program, and they loved him.
Harris will be interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA. A Celebration of Life was held at the Cottage Lake Building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Woodinville, WA. September 21, 2024.
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