Obituary: Delores "Dee" Heltne

Delores "Dee" Heltne, a former Havre High School teacher and community leader, passed away on March 9, 2017, at the age of 89.

Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 17, 2017, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Tanner Howard officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, MSU-Northern Alumni Foundation or a charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Dee's online memorial page at http://www.hollandbonine.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.

Dee was born Sept. 16, 1927, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Carl and Margaret Nordling and grew up in Hawley, Minnesota,where she participated in many activities including basketball. However, her real passion was debate where she became a state champion her senior year.

After high school, she attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and graduated with honors in education. She began her teaching career in Minnesota and eventually moved to Havre, Montana, to teach English at Havre High School. It was in Havre that she met and married her late husband, Dan Heltne, who had two children, Shirley and Doug.

Dee loved theater and directed several plays at Havre High. She was an active participant in the Community Concert Association, Northern Showcase, Delta Kappa Gamma, Chapter V PEO, United Way Board, and served on the board of the Montana State Arts Council.

Dee passed away peacefully at Highgate Memory Care Center in Billings with her daughter, Debbie (Grodahl) Baker, and granddaughter, Christy (Baker) Mayer, at her side. She is also survived by her son, Skip Grodahl; daughter-in-law, Judy Grodahl; grandsons, Eric, Adam and Jack Grodahl; son-in-law, Tom Baker, grandson; D.J. Baker, granddaughter-in-law, Tamra Baker; grandson-in-law, Kendal Mayer; and four great-grandchildren, Kody and Carsen Mayer and Evan and Ty Baker.

The family is grateful to Highgate for the loving care she received there.