Sidney Helgesen

Sidney Martin (Beanie) Helgesen, aged 64, passed away at home on Wednesday morning, October 23, 2024, following a short, courageous battle with cancer.

Sid was born on September 2, 1960 in Troy, Ohio, to Sidney and Ellen Helgesen. Sid earned his family nickname (Beanie) from his Aunt Linda Johnson because as an infant, he fit into a small shoebox.

Sid was raised in Sparta, Wisconsin and attended the Sparta School System, graduating from Sparta High School in 1979.  Having been raised in Wisconsin, Sid was a life-long Green Bay Packers fan (aka-a cheesehead!)

He moved to the Portland, Oregon area in 1981 where he met and married his soulmate, Sharon McElderry.  They were married on October 22, 1988.

Throughout Sid’s life, he held several different jobs in masonry, home construction and landscaping.  He also went to school for waste water management and held a position at a service station before moving to Montana in December 2020.

Sid never really knew a stranger and once he moved to Montana, he set out to make many friends: the men in his Tuesday morning coffee group and friends in the Amish community through his driving them around the valley, friends at the grocery store, and everywhere he went. He also gained a reputation as the guy who made Mike and Linda’s lawn look like a golf course!

Sid had many hobbies, which included snowmobiling and fishing with his good friend, Jonathan Hostetler. Sid was also a motorcycle enthusiast both on and off the road.  It is fair to say that Sid loved the outdoors.

Sid was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney Helgesen and Evelyn Mullenberg, his maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Willis Dingy and paternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Helgesen.

Sid is survived by his loving wife, Sharon, his stepson Rick McElderry and three grandchildren, Jeff, Jared, and Katie, his three brothers, Jim (Diane) Brohmer of Mexico, Rick (Paulina) Brohmer of Indonesia, Dennis (Jill) Brohmer of Wisconsin, and Lorene Endres of Florida. He also leaves behind numerous aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.

Sharon would like to extend a special thank you to Dennis and Jill Brohmer who so tirelessly and lovingly cared for Sid and Sharon in his final days.  You have been a God-send to us and we are grateful beyond words. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

She would also like to say a special thank you to Mike McElderry who gave a special gift to Sid by introducing him to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who forgave him, washed him clean, and welcomed him into his true home in heaven.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sidney Helgesen, please visit our floral store.