submitted by bergc2@augsburg.edu
Dear faculty and staff,
It is with a heavy heart I write to share news of the passing of the Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, a member of the Augsburg University Board of Regents since 2016 and a longtime supporter of the university and our students. We will deeply miss her and the gifts of leadership and advocacy she brought to our community.
Marlene was a transformational leader in each of the communities blessed to count her as a member. I will forever be grateful for Marlene’s witness and for the joy she brought to the work of leadership and service.
She is survived by her spouse, Harvey; two daughters; and two grandchildren. Her funeral service will be at noon on Tuesday at Central Lutheran Church, 333 South 12th Street in Minneapolis, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations (checks) may be made in her honor to All Nations Indian Church, 1515 23rd Street East, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Memo: Marlene). Her full obituary is linked below.
Marlene was truly an exemplar of service and stewardship, the kind we believe Auggies are called to emulate. I pray for her friends and family, for her congregation, and all those blessed to have been touched by her life.
In peace,
President Paul Pribbenow