Kerry Helmeke

Kerry Dean Helmeke, 89, passed away Saturday March 15, 2025 at his family home in Cary, NC. Kerry was born May 9, 1935 in Fargo, North Dakota to Fred and Lavinia (Zignego) Helmeke. He was raised on the family farm outside Georgetown, MN. He attended school in Felton MN graduating from Felton in 1953. Kerry then attended North Dakota Agricultural College, now North Dakota State University. There he studied Electrical Engineering, changed majors and graduated in 1957 in Economics. Kerry enjoyed fellowship in the SAE Fraternity where he made lifelong friends.

Kerry then joined the US Navy, graduated Officer Candidate School in New Port Rhode Island. He served on the USS Dixie AD14 as Supply Officer. He was stationed out of San Diego, CA and spent the majority of time at sea and over in Japan. He was also Commissary Officer for 1 year at Point Mugu, CA.

After being honorably discharged in 1961, Kerry started his career with the US Department of Labor in Los Angeles, CA. While in CA he married college sweetheart Catherine (Kay) Alm and the newlyweds quickly moved to Maryland when Kerry was transferred to The Department of Labor in Washington DC, where he worked until retirement in 1990.

After retiring, Kerry and Kay built their dream home on Lake Murray in SC, where he enjoyed fishing with family. He loved waking up to the lake. They traveled the country, 49 states, visited family and friends, and national parks; their favorite area being the Black Hills in SD.

Kerry loved music and dancing. He once watched an Elvis Presley Concert from a hillside with friends in 1956. He met Kay at the Crystal Ballroom at a dance during college. Kerry and Kay continued to dance together throughout their entire lives.

Kerry loved cars. If you ever talked to him about his past, family and friends, he always knew what car (year, make and model) they drove. Kerry also loved to read, do the daily crossword puzzles, do his own stock trading, and of course play cards. Everyone wanted to be Kerry’s partner and had so much fun playing win or lose.

Kerry valued and loved family above everything else. He was the youngest of eight and looked up to his older siblings. He and Kay raised their three children to value and appreciate extended family through demonstrating that importance. Kerry took every bit of his vacation time to annually visit his and Kay’s families across the country with Kay and the kids. That sentiment was returned by his nieces and nephews in the last years of his life with many gatherings where he was surrounded with love and honest yearning to hear his stories of days past. He knew he was loved and appreciated.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Catherine (Kay), Cary NC; children, Michael (Petra) Helmeke, Vienna, VA, Valoree Eikinas, Cary, NC and Karla (David) Horn, Arnold, MD; grandchildren, Victoria Eikinas, Cary, NC, Kim Horn, Parker Horn amd Matthew Horn all from Arnold, MD, and Daniel Helmeke, Vienna, VA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Lavinia; sister Isabelle; brothers Harold, Loren, Waldo, Maynard, Lloyd and Lester; and nieces Vicki Helmeke, and Beth Alm. Recently deceased was his niece Kay Hockett.

A reception to follow the Celebration of Life at Country Inn & Suites; 3316 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103.

Burial with Military Honors at 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 10th At St. James Cemetery in Page, ND.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Below is a link for donations in Kerry’s memory.

dogood.t2t.org/IMOKerryDeanHelmeke

Anyone who wishes to donate by mail, a form will be made available to send to:
2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10306

Please make your check out to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and include a note “This Donation is made in Memory of Kerry Dean Helmeke.”