Robert "Bob" Hellerud

Hills, MN     Robert Hellerud (Bob) age 83 of Hills, MN died Friday, November 3rd, 2017 at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN.     Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, MN with Fr. Tom Jennings, officiating.  Burial will follow with full military honors in the Flowerfield Cemetery at Hills, MN.     Visitation will be Monday, November 6th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills.    Robert “Bob” Hellerud was born December 22, 1933, in Hills, MN the son of Henry and Eva (Goodwin) Hellerud. He was better known by his nickname "Popeye" a name given to him by the "hobos" who rode the railcars through Hills. Bob grew up in Hills, MN where he attended Hills High School.  Popeye served his country from 1953-1955 as an Army Truck driver during the Korean War. He was also a life guard for the Army. He received the National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Medal of Freedom.  Bob was united in marriage to Jeannie White on February 1, 1964 at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Sioux Falls, SD.  They made their home in Hills, MN.  Robert worked at Blue Ribbon Hatchery and was a truck driver for The Paper Company in Sioux Falls, SD.  After retiring he worked as a custodian at Hills Beaver Creek High School, a position he thoroughly enjoyed. He belonged to Hills Fire Dept, Hills Community Club, Hills City Council, Pheasants Forever, Beaver Creek Sportsman Club and was a Hills Legion Member.      Popeye loved the outdoors, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was very patriotic and flew a flag in his yard on a flag pole he found in a ditch on one of his trucking runs. He was a collector of many things, including beer cans, and barbed wire.  He was a fan of all sports, but loved his Minnesota teams best, especially the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots, Gophers, Twins and his beloved Vikings. He and his wife Jean were foster parents through the state of Minnesota, and also had foreign exchange students over the years.      Bob is survived by his loving wife Jeannie Hellerud; daughters, Kelli Hellerud, Hills, MN, Konni (Greg) Liggons, Sioux Falls, SD and Amy (Tom) Bosch Sioux Falls, SD; Granddaughters, Karah (Tyler) Hellerud, Emma (Tyler) Bosch, Isabel Bosch, Karissa Liggons and one Grandson Noah Hellerud.  He had 3 great-grandchildren, Makynzie, Keiton and Emileigh.       He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Eva, sisters, Betty Copler and Eleanor Sergaent and brother, Gale Hellerud. Blessed be his memory.