Helga C. D. Garrison, 94, Minot, died Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in a Minot Hospital.

Helga was born December 9, 1917 at Colgan, North Dakota, the daughter of Gustav and Angeline (Pederson) Dreyer. She was raised and educated at Colgan and graduated from high school there in 1936. She moved with her family to Minot in 1937, and began employment with the Great Northern Railway, working as a messenger.

Helga served with the WAAC, where she met William H. Garrison. They were united in marriage on April 28, 1946 at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot. From this union, two daughters, Dianne & Gladys were born in Minot. While Bill served in the U.S. Army, the family lived at various military bases in Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas, Germany and Georgia.

Upon Bill's retirement in 1964, the family returned to Minot and Helga returned to work with the Burlington Northern Railroad. Bill died on October 2, 1968. Helga continued to work with the Railroad, serving as a PBX operator and eventually as a clerk. She retired from the company in 1980 while working at St. Cloud, MN. The past number of years, she has lived with her daughter, Gladys.

Helga was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, where she was active in the church choir, assisted the church treasurer and was a member of Faith Circle. She especially enjoyed sewing and doing carpentry work.

Her loving family includes: daughters, Dianne (Donald) Thomas and Gladys Garrison, both of Minot; grandchildren, Jennifer Thomas & Chris (Brittany) Thomas; four great-grandchildren; brother, Stanley (Evelyn) Dreyer, Sidney, MT; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Helga was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Edmond, Kjerulf & Gerald Dreyer; sisters, Audrey Bjornson Knudson & Edith Thompson.

Funeral service: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11:00 am. in Zion Lutheran Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: Monday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church or the organization of the donor's choice.