Donna Sue Helgerson

Donna Helgerson, age 71, of Aurora, Missouri, passed away at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was born April 22, 1953, in Aurora, Missouri. She was the daughter of Don and Betty Sue (Gardner) Ellis.
Donna was a 1971 graduate of Parkview High School in Springfield, Missouri. She met James Garrison not long after high school and they were married in December 1972. They had two boys. Andy was born in May 1975 and Nick in March 1978. Donna worked for various manufacturing and production facilities throughout her career, most notably Syntex/DuCoa in the 80s and early 90s and in Quality Control at Schreiber Foods in Mt. Vernon, Missouri with whom she retired. Her first marriage ended in the early 90s, and she met Richard Helgerson in 1993. The two married in May of that year. They purchased Hawgwild BBQ in 2003 which they ran until 2015.
Donna is preceded in death by her father, Don in 1975, her mother, Sue in 2019, and her brother, Craig in 2020. She is survived by her husband, Richard of Aurora, Missouri; her son, Nick Garrison of Aurora, Missouri, and her son, Andy Garrison and his wife, Farrah, of Aurora, Missouri; her sister, Stacey Boyce of Springfield, Missouri; three grandchildren, Devin Garrison of Marionville, Missouri, Layne Garrison of Aurora, Missouri and Hailey Endicott of Mt. Vernon, Missouri; two nieces, Stephanie Taylor and her husband, Micky of St. Louis, Missouri and their daughters, Emma and Ellie Taylor and Jennifer Eden and her husband, Eric of Aurora, Missouri and their two boys Cam and Tuck; two step-children, Michael Helgerson and his wife, Maribel, and their son, Brandon and Michelle Quilhot and her husband, Mark and their son, Chris of Lansing, Illinois.
Donna enjoyed many activities in her youth from the family lake excursions to working as a camp counselor. Her true joy in life was the life she had created. Her sons and grandsons she felt were her greatest legacy. Coming in a close second were her dachshunds. Max was first, but many more followed. Rudy, Petey, Heidi, Davey, Rusty, and Ruby were all wiener dogs that graced the Helgerson household.
The family would also like to thank Dr. Welaya and the oncology department at Hulston Cancer Center in Springfield. A celebration of life, under the direction of Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, Missouri, will be held on 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Missouri. A memorial graveside will follow at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.
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