Donald L. Helander, 62

Donald L. "Don" Helander passed away Sunday, June 1, 2014, after a brief, courageous battle with cancer.

He was born Dec. 31, 1951, to Harold and Gladys (Burnside) Helander of Abingdon, Ill.

He graduated from Abingdon High School in 1970, and attended Monmouth College.

In 1978, he began a 36-year career with the Burlington Northern Railroad, most of which he spent as a locomotive engineer. In 1984, he transferred to Whitefish where he married and raised his family. For 21 years he represented his "brothers" as local chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Union.

Along with railroading, he loved nothing as much as a "good day to ride" his Harleys. He saw much of the country and made many good friends on the open road.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Gladys.

Those he leaves behind are his wife of 29 years, Joyce; daughters, Jessica and Anna of Whitefish; stepson, David Brown of Carbondale, Ill.; and two granddaughters, Alice-Lara Helander and Makayla Rose Large, also of Whitefish. Also mourning his loss are brothers, Mike and Suzie, and Rick and Bobbi, of Knoxville, Ill., and brother, Dean and Vi of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A memorial with the scattering of his ashes will be held in mid-August.