Debra Helquist

Debra Borg Helquist, 71 passed away on June 2, 2025 in Altoona, WI.

Deb was a strong woman of faith. She lived this out by spending hours at a time praying for the needs of others, meditating on the Bible, and showing Christ's love every day. Her love of Bible reading led her to be in a number of Bible studies and to lead 2 Zoom prayer times for the past 6 years. She faithfully supported numerous Christian ministries. Deb was involved with 4 missions trips to the middle eastern countries of Israel, Gaza, Egypt, and Sudan. Throughout her 19 years of dealing with various cancers she continually reached out to other Mayo patients and staff.

She was born on July 1,1953 in Duluth, MN to Eugene and Charlotte Borg. She was one of four children in the family that included Leslie, Jan, and Carla. After graduating from Duluth East in 1971, she received her BS in Elementary Education and French from St. Scholastica in 1975. This began a rich and varied teaching career that included working with K-2 students in Duluth.

In 1977 Deb was married to Frank Helquist in Duluth, and in 1980 they moved to eastern Wisconsin to pursue education careers. She taught a variety of elementary grades. After completing her Master's Degree in School Counseling she worked as an Elementary School Counselor in Sheboygan for many years. In 1983 their son Anders was born and in 1986 their daughter Anika was born.

In 1996 Deb and Frank moved to Birchwood, WI where they lived for 27 years and then to Eau Claire in 2023. It was during the last 20 years of Deb's career that she discovered the joy of working with at-risk high school students and adults to earn high school diplomas, GED's and HSED's. This occurred at Northwood Tech in Rice Lake and Hayward, and especially on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College, and in the Barron and Sawyer County Jails. Deb's passion led her to help many adults become the first graduates in their families.

2016 opened up new opportunities as she worked with a number of adult tutors to create Sawyer County Literacy, a non-profit organization providing free literacy services to hundreds of adults.

More important than any job she had, was how Deb was an individual whose love for people was based in her strong Christian faith. She spent hour upon hour praying for people and reaching out to those in need. Her two children and 6 grandchildren were sources of immense love and pride, especially with their Chistian faith.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years (Frank), whom she faithfully supported during three employment moves. She also leaves behind her loving son Anders (Emily) of Eau Claire, daughter Anika Enger (Jon) of Balsam Lake WI, Grandchildren Ginny and Andersson Helquist of Eau Claire, WI , and Levi, Josiah, Lucia, and Selah Enger of Balsam Lake, WI. She is also survived by her brother Jan Borg of Duluth, MN, sister Carla Anderson (Mark) of Cloquet, MN and sister Leslie Gordon of Conway, AR. She is also survived by numerous loving nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces, cousins, and friends.

She is predeceased by her father Eugene A. Borg and mother Charlotte Borg of Duluth, MN. Also her dearly loved Great Aunt Anne Memmola of Duluth, MN.

The family is indebted to the Oncology Staff of Dr. Basu at Mayo Luther who provided outstanding health care for Deb from 2006 until her passing. Special thanks are extended to staff at the Mayo hospitals in Eau Claire, Rochester, and Barron for their high quality care. The staff at River Pines Grace Lutheran Communities and St. Croix Hospice were in her life for only a brief period of time but made such a difference to Deb and her family.

The family thanks Jacob's Well Church and Hulke Family Funeral Home for their services and support.

In honor of Deb's well lived life and her new life, Hulke Family Funeral Home in Eau Claire, WI will be hosting a 3:00 – 6:00 pm visitation on Sunday, June 8. On Monday, June 9 Jacob's Well Church in Chippewa Falls, WI will be conducting a Christian funeral at 11:00am with visitation starting at 10:00am. Following a lunch, the family and friends are invited to the internment at Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI .

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Sawyer County Literacy (a volunteer non-profit organization that Deb founded – https://sawyercountyliteracy.org) or Forest Springs Camp (a nonprofit Christian Family Camp in Westboro, WI that Deb's family spend memorable weeks at for over 30 years - https://forestsprings.us).

Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.