MORRIS RODNEY “MORRIE” HELSER
(Sources: Oregonian newspaper, Portland, Ore., November 18, 1996, and research by Wildcatville blog in December 4 2020.)
Morris Rodney “Morrie” Helser, died Nov. 9, 1996, at age 83.
Morrie was born July 17, 1913, in Portland where he spent his life. He graduated in 1933 from Benson High School (also known as Benson Polytechnic High School and Benson Tech) in Portland and in 1937 from Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.
He starred playing football, basketball and baseball for Benson. Mr. Helser was a member of Benson High's Portland Interscholastic League championship basketball team in 1932 and he was a second team all-star in the state high school championship basketball tournament that year. At Linfield he was a standout, too, in the same three sports.
After college he played softball and basketball. Mr. Helser twice played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Independent Basketball championship tournament in Denver. In 1956, he was in the first group of players inducted into the Portland Men's Softball Hall of Fame. He later became a golfer.
He owned and operated Helser Brothers Transfer Co., a family company which started in 1902. Read more about the company here: https://www.volgagermansportland.info/helser-bros-transfer-company.html
Survivors include his wife, Marion of Tigard; daughters, Toni Sullybrook of Troutdale, Becky Huggins of Victor, N.Y., and Leslie Helser of Portland; son, Jim of Gresham; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
At his request there was no memorial service. Private burial was at Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Ore.
The family suggested remembrances to the Mexican Medical Clinic through Morrie and Marion’s church, Southwest Hills Baptist Church, at 9100 S.W. 135th Ave., Beaverton.
::: About a photo posted here … BOTH PACKARDS, BOTH HELSERS: Morrie (left) and Roy Helser, brothers, lend scoring power to Portland’s Pacific Packards independent basketball team, which will honor their sponsor, Joe Sherman, Monday night when they play Hop Gold in the American league. (Oregon Journal, Portland, Ore., Dec 13, 1936).
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Marion Patricia Helser photo from her obituary
MARION PATRICIA HELSER
24 Sept. 1916–13 Aug. 2011
(Sources: Dignity Memorial in 2011 and research by Wildcatville blog in December 2020.)
Marion Patricia Meyer Helser passed away of causes related to age on Aug. 11, 2011. She was 94 years old.
Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Morris Rodney “Morrie” Helser; owner/operator of Helser Brothers Transfer Co., Portland, Ore. Read more about the company here: https://www.volgagermansportland.info/helser-bros-transfer-company.html
She is survived by three daughters and a son: Toni Sullybrook of Troutdale, OR; Becky Huggins of Denver, Colo.; Leslie Helser of Portland, Ore.; Jim Helser of Gresham, Ore.; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Helser was born Sept. 24, 1916, in Alberta, Canada. She later moved to Puyallup, Washington, where she attended Puyallup High School. In McMinnville, Ore., she attended Linfield College, where she met her husband, Morrie. They were married 58 years.
She was a member of Southwest Hills Baptist Church in Beaverton, Oregon; a member of Summerfield Golf Club and a former member of Riverside Golf and Country Club. Marion was an accomplished golfer. She also enjoyed walking, playing bridge, gardening and daily Bible study.
Private burial was at Skyline Memorial Gardens. At her request, no funeral service was held. Remembrances were suggested to Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements were under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, Ore.
