Dorothy Helgesen

Dorothy Helgesen and her husband Alvin came from humble means. But together, they thrived and became a cornerstone of the community.

Dorothy Helgesen is one of Evansville’s senior Seniors. At 97, she still joins the Bunco games at Creekside, quilts every Tuesday morning at St. John’s Church, and attends many community events. But she is less able to navigate than when she was younger, and she misses volunteering.

I asked Nancy Nelson if her mother would agree to an interview with me. I hoped to get a look at her life and share some of the unique and interesting experiences she may have had. I asked Nancy if she and her brother Greg Helgesen would share their recollections, thinking there may be some gaps in Dorothy’s memory that they could fill. While they did help, I also learned that Dorothy is still as sharp as a tack.

Dorothy Brandt was born and raised in Janesville. She didn’t come from a wealthy family. Her Dad died when she was seven, allegedly due to the after-effects of exposure to mustard gas during World War I. Her mother was just 32 when she was left alone to raise Dorothy and her two siblings, then 18 months and ten years. Without the help of a widow’s pension (not available until 1939), her mother went to work at the Chevrolet plant.

Dorothy’s grandmother died that same year, another blow to the family. However, her grandmother had resources, and each of the six children inherited a house. Dorothy’s family fell heir to a duplex, free and clear. They moved in and rented out the other half, providing some economic benefit.

Dorothy remembers her mother trying to borrow $200 from a Janesville Bank. Their response to her request was, “we can’t loan you $200, you own a house!”. Her mother tartly replied, “Well, I can’t eat the shingles off the roof!”

In those days, most families bought groceries from Mom & Pop stores. Most stores let customers run a tab and pay as they could. At that time, bread was 10 cents a loaf.

During World War II, the government rationed food to help deal with shortages. Families used little books with stamps that they redeemed to obtain items like sugar, coffee, meats, and other commodities in short supply. Dorothy remembers that although they didn’t have much, they didn’t feel poor because many were in the same situation.

Dorothy attended Wilson School in Janesville from Kindergarten through 7th grade. The school overlooked Monterey Park on the north side of the Rock River, with General Motors on the south. She and her siblings each received one present at Christmas. She fondly remembers the year she opened a pair of green Angora mittens, saying, “I thought I had the world by the tail.”

She attended and graduated from Janesville High School. Her high school now houses the Janesville Performing Arts Center. She remembers her Home Economics class, where she learned cooking one semester and sewing during the second. Her daughter Nancy jokes that Dorothy hasn’t picked up a needle since.

While attending High School, Dorothy worked at the Janesville movie theater at night and on weekends. She earned 25 cents an hour. After graduation, she was hired by Gateway Transport, making the princely sum of $15.00/wk ($18/wk after receiving a raise).

Dorothy later moved to Milwaukee with a girlfriend. She worked in the offices of Harnischfeger Crane Manufacturing. The two friends couldn’t make enough money to get by, so they moved back to Janesville.

Around the same time, her future husband, Alvin Helgesen, returned from the war. He gave her a call. They knew each other in High School and had both suffered from losing a father.

Alvin’s Dad died when Alvin was only nine years old. The elder Helgesen left eight sons and three daughters for their industrious mother to raise.

While he was still in high school, Alvin bought a 1931 Model A for $65. However, all of the brothers used it at one time or another. He and Dorothy dated in the car. Dorothy says her brother-in-law Don even drove it all the way to California and back! It would remain a theme in their lives to this day.

The 1931 Model A

Alvin enlisted in the Air Force at the end of his Junior year. He was 17, and it was early in World War II. Even though he missed his Senior year, he still received his diploma.

Alvin must have had a fascinating experience during the war, stationed in India in 1942 when it was still a British colony. He worked as an airplane mechanic, servicing the planes that flew “over the hump,” meaning the Himalayas, to China. After four years of service, he received his discharge papers in January 1946.

Alvin in 1945 during the war

Upon his return, Alvin initially lived with his mother in Janesville. He went to work with his brother Elmer, who was running an implement business on the site of what is now Evansville Ford. Alvin and his brothers liked to work for themselves; after they were grown, several became implement dealers in Evansville, Footville, Orfordville, and Janesville.

An early view of the dealership.

After Dorothy and Alvin married in 1947, they moved into their small prefab (pre-fabricated) home next door to the implement business. They took out a GI loan for $5,500, with payments of $40.70/mo. It amazes me that she can still remember the exact amount of the payment. When Alvin’s brother Bob left the Marines, he joined Alvin in the implement business. Elmer went to manage a family farm in Albany.

Dorothy and Alvin's first home in 1947

The farm equipment business sold just about anything mechanical, from farm implements to trucks to appliances - all made by International Harvester Company. Their first foray into automobiles was a Kaiser Frazer franchise, which made one of America’s first sports cars, followed by Rambler. In 1955, when Kaiser Frazer went out of business, they added the Pontiac franchise. In those days, they even took pets for trade-ins!

In the meantime, Dorothy and Alvin began having children; Susan, Nancy, Greg, and Connie. In her spare time, Dorothy volunteered for the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Mother’s Club, and American Legion Auxiliary. She also served as the Union Township clerk and at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Dorothy recalls the additions to the house that were necessary for their larger family. They even made room for Evansville’s second AFS student, Gro Rolfsrud, from Norway. Shortly before Alvin’s passing, the Helgesens visited Gro in her home country, a memorable trip.

As the children grew, Nancy, Susan, and Greg were sent to the shop to work - washing the cars and helping in the parts department. At noon they would eat their sack lunches with Mary Loudden, the long-time bookkeeper for the shop. Other employees included Claude Willoughby, Bill Blair, Bob Kelly, Wayne Thornton, Gary Faust, and Rod Courtier.

Alvin and his brother Bob split up in 1966; Bob took a farm they jointly owned, and Alvin kept the business.

Alvin was a natural at figuring out how things worked. Dorothy said if Alvin needed an implement, he would try to get a franchise instead of just buying it. Greg added that Alvin could fix anything - except for one memorable instance.

Early in their married life, the washing machine developed a problem. Dorothy had to push it with a stick to get it spinning. Her mother happened to be at the house while Dorothy was doing the laundry. She told her daughter to insist Alvin replace it before it electrocuted her. When Dorothy brought up the matter with Alvin, he responded, “just wear tennis shoes when you do the laundry.” What a character.

After brother Bob left, Alvin gave up farm implements, keeping International trucks, Pontiac and Rambler automobiles, and Cub Cadet lawnmowers. In 1977 Alvin added Ford automobiles. In 1978, he let the American Motors (Rambler) franchise go, as it was the weakest seller. In 1984 Alvin and Dorothy sold some land across Hwy 14 to Roger Symdon for a Chevrolet dealership. Why would he do that? Because Alvin believed competition was good. After his passing in 1996, his son Greg operated the dealership for nearly 20 years.

The Helgesen Brothers in 1991: Alvin, Bob, Don & Dick

In widowhood, Dorothy had the opportunity to travel. She went to Paris and Ireland with her Evansville friends Glenace Smelcer and Lois Waller. Dorothy and her high school friend, Arlene Anderson, visited Hawaii. She also visited California with friends Dee Leeder and Eileen Meredith.

She enjoyed playing bridge, and although she says they talked more than they played, she made many good friendships. She was a member of the GEMS, a bible study group started by Delores Rohloff, and is the last surviving original member of St. John’s Dorcas Circle. Dorothy volunteered for the Blood Drive, the Primetimers group, and Senior Meals. She enjoyed working at the Care Closet until a fall broke her hip at 82, curtailing many volunteer activities.

In 2011, she received one of Evansville’s highest honors; the Cornerstone of the Community award from the City. Thankful for the life Evansville provided her and her family, Dorothy established the Alvin and Dorothy Helgesen Family Fund with the Evansville Fund - and now delights in the grants made from the fund that enhance the community.

Dorothy was always an avid auction and garage sale shopper and was always excited when she found a bargain. She can still tell you at which auction or from which Evansville resident every antique in her home came and when! At 97, she has an unbelievable memory, and at the last doctor visit, Nancy said the doctor called her amazing! She is truly a gem in our community.

Dorothy in The Car

Dorothy and her husband, Alvin Helgesen, were both born in Janesville. They lost their fathers very young, later married, and became productive and vital members of the Evansville community. They thrived here; besides raising a family, Dorothy became an active volunteer. Alvin built a fledgling implement business into a cornerstone auto dealership. Alvin passed away long ago, but Dorothy is still here to tell their story. Both Dorothy and Alvin came from humble means, but together they thrived.