As Lew reported in the email announcing her passing, they were married 63 years, nine months and 10 days. He said he tried to make every day with her an anniversary and could tell you each day how long they had been married.
A gifted musician and artist, Mrs. Helgeson served as organist and choir director at Pleasanton Presbyterian Church (now Centerpointe) from 1957 until she retired in 1985.
"The choir attracted a remarkable number of talented musicians. Carolyn encouraged all to give their best to make excellent music to honor our Lord," said Betty Gail Hunt, a choir member from her childhood to this day. Carolyn was her organ instructor and her mentor, trusting Betty Gail to substitute in worship and in directing the choir.
Under Helgeson's direction, the choir presented a number of memorable cantatas, using the many soloists and musicians in the choir.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Wednesday, July 1 at 3 p.m. at Centerpointe Presbyterian Church, 3410 Cornerstone Ct.
Mrs. Helgeson was born and grew up in Duluth, Minn. She and Lew met when his father was transferred to Duluth. While the moving truck was being unloaded, a neighbor volunteered to take Lew, a freshman in high school, around the neighborhood, but they needed to borrow a bike.
The neighbor went to Carolyn's home, introduced them and borrowed her bike. A year later, they were high school sweethearts. After high school, Lew enlisted in the U.S. Army and while he was serving in Europe, they agreed—by mail—to be married.
While Lew was overseas, Carolyn began her music ministry, serving as the organist and choir director at Central Avenue Methodist Church, where Lew's dad was the pastor.
When Lew was discharged, they were married and moved to Seattle where Carolyn completed her education, receiving a bachelor of arts from the University of Washington with a double major of art and music. She served as organist and choir director at Keystone Congregation Church.
They relocated to Richland, WA and she served at Southland United Protestant Church. When they arrived, the church didn't have an organ, a situation Lew rectified when he bought and donated an organ to the church. She later moved to Richland Lutheran Church.
In the fall of 1956, General Electric sent them to the Bay Area to check out job opportunities—two in San Jose and one at the Vallecitos facility between Livermore and Sunol. They attended the Presbyterian church on Neal Street on that Sunday and, in a conversation with the organist after the service, she begged Carolyn to take over the job.
The Helgesons agreed to move to Pleasanton and Carolyn started as the Presbyterian Church in January 1957. During her time there, she established a music program based on excellence as she directed two children's choirs, the adult choir and started the bell choir. The Rev. Robert Stuart Vogt was the senior pastor for virtually all of her tenure.
When the church constructed its facility on Mirador Drive, she guided the purchase of a custom-designed Schoenstein organ that greatly enhanced the musical offerings.
In addition to her choir work, she also taught private piano lessons for more than 20 years and worked on her art. She painted with oil and acrylic as well as working with clay. She was skilled in nine different mediums.
She and Lew travelled widely, including one 2 ˝-month round-the-world trip with two of their children connected to a business trip to Karachi, Pakistan.
In the last few years, her health declined substantially to where she was bed-bound. Her husband Lew faithfully cared for her.
She is survived by her husband, Lew; sons, Peter Helgeson of Pleasanton and Steve and his wife Sandy Helgeson of Eureka; and daughter Julie and husband Mark Wilkins of Soulsbyville, CA. They have three grandchildren and three great grandchildren,
The family prefers contributions in her memory to the Centerpointe choir program, 3410 Cornerstone Ct., Pleasanton, 94566 .