Daniel “Dan” Hellekson
Wed, 09/11/2019 - 11:15am
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Daniel "Dan" Hellekson, age 69 of Faith, SD, passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at the Cheyenne River Health Center in Eagle Butte, SD.
Service of Remembrance was held Friday, September 6, 2019 at the Faith Community Center in Faith, SD. Rev. Harold Delbridge officiated and burial followed at the Faith Cemetery.
Daniel Eugene Hellekson was born at the Faith Hospital on August 6, 1950 to Benjamin and Irvina (Walthall) Hellekson. He was the fourth of six children.
Dan was raised on the Hellekson Ranch south of Faith. He attended Zeal School through the 8th grade, and graduated from Faith High School in 1968. After graduation he ranched at the home place and worked for neighbors. Dan was drafted into the US Army in 1970 where he served in Medical Supplies as a PV 1st Class in Okinawa, Japan. After he returned home, he went to work for Agnes Oakland. Dan married Dianne Daley in 1975 and to this union two children were born, James Benjamin in 1987 and Jaci Marie in 1990.
In 1987 he went to work for the SD Department of Transportation and spent the next 27 years there. He retired in 2014 and thoroughly enjoyed the last five years hunting, fishing and playing cards at his “office” at M & D.
Dan was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He prided himself in keeping all the area stock dams stocked with fish. And as his children will tell you, you NEVER talk about his secret fishing spots. Dan’s greatest pride and joy were his children and then his horses, oh how he loved them all!
Dan had many pastimes, such as hunting, fishing, trapping, playing cards (which he loved to win at), trap shooting, pinball, foosball, and every fall catching rattlesnakes which he used to scare many unsuspecting people.
Dan is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dianne, and his children Dr. James Hellekson, and Jaci (David) Delbridge, sisters, Nadine Mahaffy, Irene (Lincoln) McGill, brothers, Dave (Denise) Hellekson, Dennis Hellekson, brothers and sisters-in-law Gary (Lori) Daley, Linda( Max) Myhre, Russell (Mary) Daley, (Mitchell (Stacy) Daley, numerous nieces and nephews, and special pets Penny, Rascal, and Punkin’.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Duane Hellekson.
A Memorial has been set up to the Wild Horse Sanctuary at Hot Springs.
