Richard Harold Helland

Richard died Sunday, October 25, 2015 at Prairie Senior Cottages, where he was loved and cared for by a wonderful staff.    
Richard Harold Helland was born November 8, 1924 west of Forest City, Iowa.  In 1930 his family settled in Crystal Lake, Iowa.  He attended Crystal Lake High School, graduating in 1943 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force.  Richard was trained as a flight engineer/gunner on an A-26 low level aircraft and served in the South Pacific.  He was discharged in 1945.  In 1947 he married Lois Wenk in Chicago, IL.  From this union were two children.  Richard attended the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK.  He earned his commercial pilot, flight instructor, single engine, sea aircraft and engine mechanic licenses.  Richard worked as a flight instructor and crop duster.  He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, August 1950, where he served in a Special Air Missions Squadron flying night missions, dropping spies behind enemy lines.  After being discharged in 1952 he returned to Chicago and worked for Eastern Airlines as a mechanic/general foreman for 33 years.  After retiring he moved to Glenville, MN in 1988.  
Survivors include his friend Sharon Nelson and her family; daughter Debra Jones and her children Kristopher and Kimberly and her two sons; son; Rick and his family all of the Chicago area; sisters Margaret Delger and Donna (Ed) Delger; brother Walter Riggle and many nephews and nieces.  
Richard was preceded in death by his father Clifford; mother Martha; step-father Ray Riggle; brother Harold in infancy.
May he fly eternally in his favorite Stearman Biplane.