Dorothy Helgeson, known to many as Kris, passed away at the age of 90 on April 19, 2020, after convalescing over six years in a memory care facility near her home.  Although the facility was closed to visitors due to pandemic precautions, her daughter Marie was able to be with her during her last days and as she passed away peacefully in hospice.

Born on July 3, 1929 to Marie (Schiøtt) Kristensen and Arthur Kristensen, Dorothy (Kris) Kristensen grew up in Chicago's northside Mayfair neighborhood.  She attended Von Stueben High School, where she remained an active alumni organizer for many decades.  She studied at North Park College in Chicago, earning an Associate degree, and then worked for several years in advertising at Foote, Cone and Belding in Chicago.  Herbert (Ray) Helgeson, satisfied Arthur's requirement to graduate from university before marrying his daughter, and Ray and Kris were wed on September 15, 1951 at Irving Park Lutheran Church, a Swedish church on Chicago's North Side, where their families had worshiped together.  After moving to Morton Grove, IL in the late 1950's, Kris and Ray continued for nearly sixty years as pillars of the congregation, serving as choir voices, a pianist, deacons, Sunday school teachers, council and worship circle members, "Footlighters" theatre actors and dependable supporters.  They are fondly remembered by so many of their fellow parishioners over the years.  Kris and Ray raised five children and now the fourth generation of the family worships at the historic church.

Kris was a devoted mother and homemaker for her growing children and was very involved in the local community, as a Girl Scout troop leader and as a supporting member of organizations like the PTA, Boy Scouts, hospital charities, local committees and school sports.  Due to her rare blood type, she was a regular apheresis blood donor for many years.  Later, in the 1980's-90's, Kris was a successful residential real estate agent with Baird & Warner in Glenview, IL.  Ray worked managing road and heavy construction, and passed away in 2013.  Kris and Ray were happily married for 61 years.

Kris embraced her Danish heritage, her parents Arthur and Marie having emigrated from the old country to the United States after their 1927 marriage in Aalborg, Denmark.  She was a life-time member of the Danish Sisterhood (Dagmar Lodge, Chicago).  She was fluent in both Danish and Swedish, and mastered cultural traditions like traditional folk music, dance, crafts and Scandinavian cuisine, which she beautifully presented for holiday celebrations and dinner parties.  She was so proud when, in consecutive years, each of her daughters was crowned as Santa Lucia for Chicago, as part of the city's Swedish cultural celebration in December.  Kris remained in contact with cousins and relatives in Denmark and Sweden, and she visited her and her husband's families during trips to Scandinavia.  Other relatives lived in Racine and Kenosha, WI.  While proud of their own heritage, Kris and Ray reached out to people of different backgrounds and cultures, and enjoyed traveling around the country visiting family and friends.

Kris leaves a legacy of kindness and generosity to others.  From school plays to sporting competitions, concerts, graduations, and all sorts of other events, she would always try to be there to support family and friends.  She and Ray offered hospitality, help and solace to new friends and extended family in need, welcoming them into their home.  There was always room for another at the dinner table, and always room for more at their cozy cottage in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where Kris and family loved to spend summer days.  Kris continued to enjoy ski trips with family and friends, even after she herself stopped skiing.  Kris grew up as an only child, so she took immense pleasure in big family events and embracing new friends.  Many friends of her children became extended "family" and will dearly miss her.

Kris is survived by her sons, Eric, Mark and Paul, and her daughters, Marie and Ingrid.  The family has members near and far: Eric and Yvonne Arcus of El Cerrito, CA; Mark and Cindy Rippa, of Lake Villa, IL; Paul and Karen (Pokarney), of Skokie, IL; Marie and Guenter Grunst of Skokie, IL, and Ingrid Helgeson and James Dalton of Austin, TX.  Her thirteen exceptional grandchildren are Kirsten, Simon, David, Rebecca, Karl, Sarah Jo, Krista, Emma, Lucas, Britta, Katrina, Brendan, and Lena.  Kris and Ray dearly loved their kids and grandkids, and always made the effort to help out and keep them going, no matter the distance.

A memorial service for Kris will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Irving Park Lutheran Church, 3938 West Belle Plaine Ave., Chicago, IL 60618; the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org (P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090); or Autism Speaks Chicago at autism.speaks.org (2700 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018). Condolences may be left for Dorothy K. Helgeson at cooneyfuneralhome.com.

Alzheimer's Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1700, Chicago, IL 60601, AL
Tel: 1-312-335-8700
Web: http://www.alz.org

Autism Speaks
3500 W. Peterson Suite 204, Chicago IL 60659
Web: http://autismspeaks.org

Irving Park Lutheran Church
3938 W. Belle Plaine Ave., Chicago IL 60618
Tel: 1-773-267-1666
Web: http://www.iplc.org/where.shtml