When questioned about the country’s banking problems, Helgerson says, “I think the investment banks have lost respect, but it will come back. People have short memories.”

Helgerson says, “I think that our bank achieved more than I expected thanks to our boys who came to help, especially when we were told that ‘you will starve to death’ when we bought the bank in Hedrick. Also, our wonderful employees over the years — only one has ever quit at the Hedrick site, to move away.”

Connie Helgerson said she hasn’t noticed much change since his official retirement. Her husband still goes into the bank as he always did, but she is happy that he has something to do that makes him happy. They continue to swim laps at The Beach Ottumwa several mornings a week. Connie was an home economics teacher so she cooks from her garden, bakes bread and serves home cooked meals at their farm home. She is active in AAUW and a few daytime organizations and loves playing mahjongg a couple times a month.

This fall, Helgerson says his sons will take him out west for his yearly trip, and a daughter-in-law will take Connie to San Diego, Calif., for a women’s trip. Some years, daughter, Nancy, has joined Connie on a trip. They look forward to these trips with family members and are thankful they want to take them as they have always enjoyed Elderhostels and traveling and being with family!

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Joan Thompson lives in Ottumwa and can be reached at joant684@mchsi.com