Helen May Madson

Helen May (Lakeman) Madson was born April 21, 1933, to Dirk and Gudrun (Hovland) Lakeman on a farm near Borup, MN. She grew up and was educated at Borup, MN. Helen graduated from high school in 1951. She also graduated from Moorhead Technical Institute in 1989.

On December 31, 1951, Helen was united in marriage to Burton Madson in Moorhead, MN.

They farmed in the Argusville, ND area until 1986 when Burton retired. They moved into Fargo in 1989. She was employed as a mail clerk from 1989 to 2006 at Charles Bailly LLP and continued in the same position when the firm became Eide Bailly LLP. Helen retired in November of 2006.

She was a member of the Nora Lutheran Church and had taught Sunday school, served as President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Women’s Group. She served on the Nora Church Council from 1999 to 2016.

She is survived by two daughters, Susan Madson, Fargo, ND, Robin Greff, Fergus Falls, MN; two grandchildren, Andrea Mayer, Dickinson, ND, and Benjamin Kappel, Mandan, ND; two great-grandchildren, Zoey and Eli Mayer; and one sister, Mary Ann Strand, Halstad, MN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Burton who passed away in January of 2011; parents, Dirk and Gudrun Lakeman; son-in-law, Jim Greff; one grandson, Robert Kappel; brother, Clarence Lakeman; and sisters Goldie Germolus of Borup, MN, Bunny Wambach of Georgetown, MN and Harriet Tufton of Moorhead, MN.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, Helen's family kindly requests that memorials be sent to HIA Hospice or Nora Church Cemetery.

Helen Madson passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Sheyenne Crossings in West Fargo, ND at the age of 93 years and 23 days. May her memory be blessed.

Memorial Services will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Nora Lutheran Church, rural Gardner, ND with Rev. Michele Jenson officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Inurnment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo, ND.