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Sixteen teams competed for the traveling trophy in the 30th Annual Helgeson Father/Son Pool Tournament Feb. 10 and 11 at Up the Dam Creek Bar in Beaver Creek.
Stan and Ron Jensen defeated tournament hosts Gary and Travis Helgeson in the final round.
Dick Kramer and Brandon Muellenberg defeated Keith and Ryan Morford for third and fourth places respectively.
Other father-son teams included Rocko and Vince Verhey, Irwin and Kyle Rozeboom, Burdett and Kyle Braun, Bert and Andrew Verhey, Wade and Noah Hofer, Ron and Stan Jensen, Bill and Eric Stegemann, Gary and Frank Parker, Dave and Travis Broesder, Tom and Josh Freese, Lee Westphal and Spencer Stroeh and Garrett Chicoine, Jarod and Tanner Rowden and Brian and Dalton Bennett.
Along with registrations for the double-elimination pool tournament, a quilt and several other raffles raised additional money.
Vicki (Helgeson) Nelson makes the quilt each year, Joni (Helgeson) Worm contributed door prizes, and the corn-hole games were constructed by Harvey Gehrke with artwork by Kenzie Helgeson.
The 2023 event raised $5,800 for Sanford Luverne Hospice, bringing the total to $48,100 over the years of Helgeson fundraising. Money came from the tri-state area and from as far away as Colorado and Indiana.
“It felt awesome,” Gary Helgeson said after the tournament. “We raised the most money ever this year.”
Gordon and Kitty Helgeson started the pool tournament in 1983 to support the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
Gary played as a father-son team with his dad until Gordon’s health declined. He passed away in 2012, and the tournament paused for several years until Gary’s son, Travis, was old enough to play. It paused again for Covid 19, resuming in 2021.
“The Helgeson family wants to thank everyone for the donations, family members for helping and Up the Dam Creek for letting us play here,” said Gary Helgeson, who with wife, Maureen, organizes the event.
“We especially thank the players. Without them there is no tournament.”