HELLING, GEORGE C. of Northfield, Minnesota, 81 years old, died July /28/ 2005. Born 11/15/1923. Preceded in death by Clifford and Gladys Helling(parents) and brother James. Survived by Dr. Barbara Helling (wife) of Northfield, MN, (daughters)Dr. Amy Helling of Atlanta, GA, Emilie of Scottsdale, AZ,(sons)Matthew of St. Paul MN, Joel of Kenyon, MN, and brothers Cliff and John and sister Sandra all of Minnesota. There are six grand children.

Dr. Helling served in W. War II, and graduated from Hamline University with B.A. He earned an M.A. and PhD at the University of Minnesota. Married Barbara (Bobbi) Burns in 1951. He studied social change in a rural village named Zek in Turkey financed by a Ford Foundation grant. He also taught math and science in Tarsus Congregational school in Turkey and later taught at Middle East Technical University in Ankara Turkey and the University of Georgia at Athens.

He was a professor of sociology at St. Olaf College from 1956 to 1962. Then he became the Head of the Department of Sociology at UNO from 62’ to 69’ He revitalized the department, recruited top faculty, expanded course offerings, and enlarged undergrad and graduate majors. He was one of the founders of the Urban Studies Institute, and supported the expansion of the Criminal Justice Area that would later be one of the top departments in the USA. The social work area was also expanded. He was an excellent teacher and taught to packed classrooms at the University. He was very active in the Omaha community.

He gave numerous papers, presentations, and reviews and was the originator of the “environmental niche” theory that is now one of the leading theories dealing with race by Jared Diamond GUNS, GERMS, & STEEL (translated into 25 languages.)

In 1970, he returned to St. Olaf College in Northfield and taught until retirement in 1986.
After that, he taught at a University in Atlanta and a Community College in Minneapolis. He was also an Assistant to Congressman Tim Penny of Minnesota. Awards include Who’s Who in Midwest and the USA, Distinguished Sociologist 2000, founder of Sociologists of Minnesota, founder of Para College at St. Olaf College. He was a longtime member of the Midwest Sociological Association.

His ashes were dispersed on the family estate in rural Minnesota. It is named “Windfall” and it is composed of a lodge and a small lake. His memorial service was held at United Methodist Church of Northfield on August 20, 2005.