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FAIRMONT -- A Celebration of Life Service for DeeAnne I. Helfritz, 76, of Fairmont, Minn., will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Inurnment will follow the service at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church. DeeAnne passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 27, 2026, at her home in Fairmont. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with the arrangements.
DeeAnne Iris Helfritz was born on Nov. 14, 1949, to Russell and Lenore (Carson) Helfritz in Austin, Minn. She graduated from Austin High School and then went on to graduate from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.
DeeAnne was united in marriage to Loren Dunham on May 4, 1996, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont, Minn. After their marriage, they continued to live in Fairmont. DeeAnne worked as a music teacher in Blue Earth, Minn., where she taught classroom, vocal, orchestra and private voice lessons for over twenty-five years, retiring in June 2002.
DeeAnne was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont where she was very active and involved. She sang in the choir and served as a director of the bell choir, cantor and lector and was also involved with church circle. Her commitment to serving others extended into the community, where she was involved with AAUW, served as a District Representative on the State Board of HCAM, and was a Past President of the Fairmont Hospital Auxiliary. DeeAnne had a love for music and the performing arts. She was active at the Fairmont Opera House and was in many musicals and was a member of several vocal ensembles, most notably Nova Cantabile.
DeeAnne found great joy in cooking and baking, especially using treasured family recipes, and she loved celebrating holidays and creating special memories with family and friends. She enjoyed gardening and crossword puzzles. Traveling was another passion of hers. She and Loren visited many places throughout Europe, traveled to nearly 50 states, visited most of the presidential libraries, and enjoyed visiting many baseball stadiums. She especially loved taking trips to New York.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Loren Dunham; stepsons, Jon Dunham and Michael Dunham; and other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Lenore Helfritz; brothers, Richard Thon, Keith Helfritz and Larry Helfritz; sisters, Lowanda Thon and Jeanette Jensen; and nephew, Ike Thon.
www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net