Marvin E. Helland, 84, rural Anamoose, ND died Thursday, March 28, 2024, in a Bismarck Hospital.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Drake, ND with burial following in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday April 10 at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND.

Marvin Edward Hellan was born on August 1, 1939 in a small farmhouse outside of Whitman, ND where his parents, Alvin and Clara (Polak) Helland homesteaded.  While growing up on the family farm Marvin and his sister Clarine found a love for family, farming, and music.  Young Marvin's passion was always the "Harvest." For Marvin, the best of times was the sight of the thrashing crew coming down the hill to bring in the farm's annual wheat harvest.  As a young man Marvin worked for a local blacksmith where he forged his legendary mechanical skills.  In those days it was common for the whole community to gather on Saturday nights for music and dancing.  Marvin was no exception.  He not only enjoyed the festivities but was a major part of them.  He played guitar and accordion in his band the "Country Boys".  It was while playing for one of these community dances he met the love of his life Lavina Kelly.

Marvin and Lavina were married on June 30, 1961 in Lakota, ND.  It was around this time Marvin began working for the Soo Line Railroad mowing right of ways.  He quickly worked up the ranks to become section foreman of the Funston Line.  He and Nina moved to Funston in 1964. They raised their four children Tina, Glenna, Monte and Marvin Jr. in Funston which was located north of Drake.

On his time off from the railroad where he spiked ties and straightened rails, Marvin tinkered in his "Lil Red" garage on everything from farm equipment to hot rods.  Although he enjoyed his time with the railroad, Marvin could never shake his love for the wheat harvest.  He retired from the railroad in the spring of 1975 and bought two new 510 Massy Ferguson combines and headed south for the wheat fields of the great plains.

On the custom harvest runs, Marvin's mechanical abilities flourished.  He often built his own trailers and modified and improved his equipment.  He was legendary for his ability to patch it up and keep it going until the next rainy day.  This is when he got his handle "The Straw Boss."

In the winter months, besides maintaining his harvest fleet, "The Straw Boss" would keep "movin' on in his old black and red Freightliner hauling local grain to the Twin Cities or Duluth.

As busy as Marvin was harvesting and trucking, he still found time for music.  He was known for bringing his accordion and playing impromptu polka concerts almost anywhere.  Although he never learned to read sheet music, he could master any instrument he could get his hands on just playing by ear.

Even after fighting and winning a battle with cancer in his later years, Marvin continued to do what he loved, custom harvesting, fixing things, playing music and most of all caring for the ones he loved to the very end.

Marvin is survived by his wife Lavina of Anamoose; two daughters, Tina Helland of San Francisco and Glenna (Frank) Faul of Harvey; two sons, Monte (Sarah) Helland and Marvin Jr. (Torina) Helland all of Drake; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Clarine Ruud of McVille.  Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and his uncle Morris.