Andrew's body was found by his brother, Aisle K. Helgelien, in Belle Gunnes' farm's waste pit. Many other bodies were also discovered in the pit as well. Andrew left his home in South Dakota to go to LaPorte, Indiana in January of 1908 after answering an ad for a mate that Gunnes had placed in a newspaper. They corresponded for several months before Andrew withdrew $3,000 from his bank in South Dakota and went to LaPorte. He was intending to marry Belle Gunnes. After Andrew did not return from his visit to LaPorte, Asle wrote a letter to his brother. Belle replied to it saying that Andrew was no longer in LaPorte and may have went to Norway to visit family. Suspicious, Asle came to LaPorte as soon as he could which was in May only to discover his brother's remains. Such seemed to be the fate of many that came into contact with Gunnes. It is believed that Andrew was the last murder victim of Belle Gunnes, who is thought to have murdered at least 25 and as many as 33 people.
∼Belle Gunness was said to have killed him
December 1907, Andrew Helgelien, a bachelor farmer from Aberdeen, South Dakota, wrote to her and was warmly received. The pair exchanged many letters, until a letter that overwhelmed Helgelien, written in Gunness' own careful handwriting and dated January 13, 1908. This letter was later found at the Helgelien farm. It read:
To the Dearest Friend in the World: No woman in the world is happier than I am. I know that you are now to come to me and be my own. I can tell from your letters that you are the man I want. It does not take one long to tell when to like a person, and you I like better than anyone in the world, I know. Think how we will enjoy each other's company. You, the sweetest man in the whole world. We will be all alone with each other. Can you conceive of anything nicer? I think of you constantly. When I hear your name mentioned, and this is when one of the dear children speaks of you, or I hear myself humming it with the words of an old love song, it is beautiful music to my ears. My heart beats in wild rapture for you, My Andrew, I love you. Come prepared to stay forever.
In response to her letter, Helgelien flew to her side in January 1908. He had with him a check for $2,900, his savings, which he had drawn from his local bank. A few days after Helgelien arrived, he and Gunness appeared at the Savings Bank in La Porte and deposited the check. Helgelien vanished a few days later.
[part of story from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Born in Ål, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway, his parents were Knut and Guri.
∼Belle Gunness was said to have killed him
December 1907, Andrew Helgelien, a bachelor farmer from Aberdeen, South Dakota, wrote to her and was warmly received. The pair exchanged many letters, until a letter that overwhelmed Helgelien, written in Gunness' own careful handwriting and dated January 13, 1908. This letter was later found at the Helgelien farm. It read:
To the Dearest Friend in the World: No woman in the world is happier than I am. I know that you are now to come to me and be my own. I can tell from your letters that you are the man I want. It does not take one long to tell when to like a person, and you I like better than anyone in the world, I know. Think how we will enjoy each other's company. You, the sweetest man in the whole world. We will be all alone with each other. Can you conceive of anything nicer? I think of you constantly. When I hear your name mentioned, and this is when one of the dear children speaks of you, or I hear myself humming it with the words of an old love song, it is beautiful music to my ears. My heart beats in wild rapture for you, My Andrew, I love you. Come prepared to stay forever.
In response to her letter, Helgelien flew to her side in January 1908. He had with him a check for $2,900, his savings, which he had drawn from his local bank. A few days after Helgelien arrived, he and Gunness appeared at the Savings Bank in La Porte and deposited the check. Helgelien vanished a few days later.
[part of story from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Born in Ål, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway, his parents were Knut and Guri.
Andrew's body was found by his brother, Aisle K. Helgelien, in Belle Gunnes' farm's waste pit. Many other bodies were also discovered in the pit as well. Andrew left his home in South Dakota to go to LaPorte, Indiana in January of 1908 after answering an ad for a mate that Gunnes had placed in a newspaper. They corresponded for several months before Andrew withdrew $3,000 from his bank in South Dakota and went to LaPorte. He was intending to marry Belle Gunnes. After Andrew did not return from his visit to LaPorte, Asle wrote a letter to his brother. Belle replied to it saying that Andrew was no longer in LaPorte and may have went to Norway to visit family. Suspicious, Asle came to LaPorte as soon as he could which was in May only to discover his brother's remains. Such seemed to be the fate of many that came into contact with Gunnes. It is believed that Andrew was the last murder victim of Belle Gunnes, who is thought to have murdered at least 25 and as many as 33 people.
∼Belle Gunness was said to have killed him
December 1907, Andrew Helgelien, a bachelor farmer from Aberdeen, South Dakota, wrote to her and was warmly received. The pair exchanged many letters, until a letter that overwhelmed Helgelien, written in Gunness' own careful handwriting and dated January 13, 1908. This letter was later found at the Helgelien farm. It read:
To the Dearest Friend in the World: No woman in the world is happier than I am. I know that you are now to come to me and be my own. I can tell from your letters that you are the man I want. It does not take one long to tell when to like a person, and you I like better than anyone in the world, I know. Think how we will enjoy each other's company. You, the sweetest man in the whole world. We will be all alone with each other. Can you conceive of anything nicer? I think of you constantly. When I hear your name mentioned, and this is when one of the dear children speaks of you, or I hear myself humming it with the words of an old love song, it is beautiful music to my ears. My heart beats in wild rapture for you, My Andrew, I love you. Come prepared to stay forever.
In response to her letter, Helgelien flew to her side in January 1908. He had with him a check for $2,900, his savings, which he had drawn from his local bank. A few days after Helgelien arrived, he and Gunness appeared at the Savings Bank in La Porte and deposited the check. Helgelien vanished a few days later.
[part of story from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Born in Ål, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway, his parents were Knut and Guri.
∼Belle Gunness was said to have killed him
December 1907, Andrew Helgelien, a bachelor farmer from Aberdeen, South Dakota, wrote to her and was warmly received. The pair exchanged many letters, until a letter that overwhelmed Helgelien, written in Gunness' own careful handwriting and dated January 13, 1908. This letter was later found at the Helgelien farm. It read:
To the Dearest Friend in the World: No woman in the world is happier than I am. I know that you are now to come to me and be my own. I can tell from your letters that you are the man I want. It does not take one long to tell when to like a person, and you I like better than anyone in the world, I know. Think how we will enjoy each other's company. You, the sweetest man in the whole world. We will be all alone with each other. Can you conceive of anything nicer? I think of you constantly. When I hear your name mentioned, and this is when one of the dear children speaks of you, or I hear myself humming it with the words of an old love song, it is beautiful music to my ears. My heart beats in wild rapture for you, My Andrew, I love you. Come prepared to stay forever.
In response to her letter, Helgelien flew to her side in January 1908. He had with him a check for $2,900, his savings, which he had drawn from his local bank. A few days after Helgelien arrived, he and Gunness appeared at the Savings Bank in La Porte and deposited the check. Helgelien vanished a few days later.
[part of story from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Born in Ål, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway, his parents were Knut and Guri.
Inscription
Andrew K. Helgelien 1858-1908 The Last Victim of the Gunnes Horror. Remains Found By His Brother Asle K. Helgelien May 5, 1908 Rest In Peace.
Gravesite Details
The name Helgelien as spelled on the gravestone is confirmed by family members to be correct. An alternate spelling (e.g., Helgelein) seen elsewhere is not correct.
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