1932
Donald
2012
Donald Robert 'Bob' Hellinger
March 12, 1932 — May 31, 2012
Donald Robert "Bob" Hellinger, 80, long-time farmer and pilot from Devon, passed away May 31, 2012, at his farm near Devon. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, June 5 at 2:00 pm at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby. Burial with military honors will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery. Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
Bob was born March 12, 1932 in Shelby to Donald F. and Jennie C. (Hebbard) Hellinger. Bob grew up on the farm north of Devon attending schools in Devon and graduating from Shelby High School in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and, after spending 4 years in the service, decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life farming. In 1957 he and his brother Dean formed the Hellinger Bros. Farm which they operated for 41 years. When he retired, he and Dean leased the farm to the next generation of Hellinger Bros.
In 1959 Bob married Marie Dounley, the love of his life. They had sons Jim and Douglas; grandson, Riley; and granddaughter, Madeline.
Bob owned and flew his own airplanes for over 53 years. He had received the Wright Bros. Master Pilot award in 2009 for 50 years of safe flying. Over the years Bob gave a countless number of young people their first airplane ride, encouraging each of them to become interested in aviation.
Bob was president of the Devon Farmers Union Local, the Devon Farmers Union Oil Co, Secretary of the Toole County National Farmers Organization, served on the Toole County Airport Board and as Toole County's representative on the Highway 2 Association. He was also secretary of the Galata County Water District for 16 years.
Bob was a proud supporter of all of the Shelby Coyote teams over the years and so enjoyed all of his many friends. He was an avid golfer who got a hole in one in 2007 on the Marias Valley Golf Course.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; sons, Jim and Doug; brother Dean and wife Patricia; his two grandkids, Riley and Madeline; and many cousins.
Bob was born March 12, 1932 in Shelby to Donald F. and Jennie C. (Hebbard) Hellinger. Bob grew up on the farm north of Devon attending schools in Devon and graduating from Shelby High School in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and, after spending 4 years in the service, decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life farming. In 1957 he and his brother Dean formed the Hellinger Bros. Farm which they operated for 41 years. When he retired, he and Dean leased the farm to the next generation of Hellinger Bros.
In 1959 Bob married Marie Dounley, the love of his life. They had sons Jim and Douglas; grandson, Riley; and granddaughter, Madeline.
Bob owned and flew his own airplanes for over 53 years. He had received the Wright Bros. Master Pilot award in 2009 for 50 years of safe flying. Over the years Bob gave a countless number of young people their first airplane ride, encouraging each of them to become interested in aviation.
Bob was president of the Devon Farmers Union Local, the Devon Farmers Union Oil Co, Secretary of the Toole County National Farmers Organization, served on the Toole County Airport Board and as Toole County's representative on the Highway 2 Association. He was also secretary of the Galata County Water District for 16 years.
Bob was a proud supporter of all of the Shelby Coyote teams over the years and so enjoyed all of his many friends. He was an avid golfer who got a hole in one in 2007 on the Marias Valley Golf Course.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; sons, Jim and Doug; brother Dean and wife Patricia; his two grandkids, Riley and Madeline; and many cousins.
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