AMBER (LEE) HELGERSON, 89, of La Crosse, Wis., passed away Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, at Hillview Health Care Center. She was born in the town of Freeman, Crawford County, Wis., to Ole and Mena (Rust) Lee on Nov. 29, 1922. Amber grew up on a farm on Nash Ridge, Crawford County, Wis., and attended Sugar Creek School with her sisters. She attended high school in Lansing, Iowa, and in Viroqua, a member of the Viroqua Class of 1940. After attending Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, she taught school at Mt. Sterling. While teaching school, she met Reuben Helgerson and they were united in marriage on Oct. 12, 1944, at Freeman Lutheran Church. Orlando Lee, her brother, performed the service. Reuben and Amber resided in Viroqua for 20 years, in Superior for two years, followed by 18 years in La Crosse. While living in La Crosse, Amber worked at the J.C. Penney's Catalog Store and at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center's Department of Oral Surgery. After retirement, they lived in Mt. Sterling for 14 years until Reuben's death in 2000. Amber returned to La Crosse in February 2002, where she has resided until her death. Amber is survived by her children, Richard (Cindy) of Chisago City, Minn., Roland (Ruth) of Stillwater, N.Y., Ann (Michael) Kelly of La Crosse and Tim of Fairbanks, Alaska; 11 grandchildren, Kelli (Wayne) Clemens, Julie Helgerson, Erik (Maria) Helgerson, Ann Helgerson, Andrew Helgerson, Karl Helgerson, Katie Helgerson, Matthew (Erin) Kelly, Brian Kelly, Elizabeth (Eric) Anderson and Rachel Kelly; six great-grandchildren, Cory and Colten Clemens, Davis and Scarlett Kelly, Emmett Anderson and Adam Helgerson; her sisters, Lila Storaasli of St. Paul, Minn., and Edith Sandwick of Viroqua; a sister-in-law, Helen (Lawrence) Coleman, and a brother-in-law, Rolf Helgerson; and many special nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Reuben; her parents, Ole and Mena Lee; her brothers, ORLANDO LEE ’37 (Myrtle) and Harold Lee; her sisters, Gladys (Lawrence) Froiland and Mildred (Oris) Churness; her sisters-in-law, Katherine (William) Blodget and Mary Helgerson; and her brothers-in-law, Olaf Storaasli, Nulton Sandwick and Joseph Helgerson. Memorial services were held Oct. 12, 2012, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4141 Mormon Coulee Rd., La Crosse, with The Rev. Ben Schaefer and the Rev. Christine Hallemeier officiating. Memorials may be given to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for Breast Cancer Research and to Hillview Health Care Center/Carroll Heights Senior Apartments in La Crosse. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, (Woodruff Chapel), La Crosse, assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com.