Marvin Helling, of Englewood, FL, and previously of Shoreview, MN died on November 30, 2014 at the age of 91. He was born in Luverne, Minnesota on May 16, 1923 the son of Albert and Jennie (Skyberg) Helling. Athletics were a part of his life since childhood. At Luverne High School in southwestern Minnesota, he played football and basketball and was runner-up in the in the hurdles at the 1941 state track meet.
Marvin served in the United States Navy and was a commanding officer of a combat ship in the South Pacific during World War II.
Marv attended Macalester College, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education. He was a fullback and co-captain of the Scots 1947 MIAC championship team and an all-conference selection. His teaching and football coaching career in Minnesota included Jackson, Detroit Lakes and Minneapolis Washburn high schools. He had a combined record of 72-14-1 including several conference championships.
In 1957 he jumped to the collegiate ranks to be head coach at the University of North Dakota. In his ten years at North Dakota, the team won two bowl games and three North Central Conference championships. Several of his players won all-conference honors and some went on to play in the NFL, including former Viking Dave Osborne. Marv was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1988. He continued to be a strong supporter of UND athletics all his life and left a lasting legacy.
Marv served as an associate director of the Minnesota High School League from 1972 until 1985. He was instrumental in working toward establishing a high school football playoff system. The Prep Bowl, played at the Metrodome, which included five state championship games played the same day, came to fruition with Marv's help in 1982. He was a visionary that helped many good things happen in high school football. He "moved the game forward".
Besides being a winning coach, his players became like family. He was highly respected and felt an obligation to give back in honor of the teachers and coaches who had supported him as a youth. He was knowledgeable about the sports he was involved with. He managed the high school hockey tournament for the MSHSL. He also served as chairman of the national rules committee for hockey, swimming and diving for the National Federation of State High School Associations. Marv made sports a positive experience for students. He was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Hall of Fame in 1999.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Marcia; sons: Mark Helling of River Falls, WI and Steven Helling of Amery, WI; a daughter Karen MacCarter of Boise, Idaho; a sister Doreen Sickles of Laguna Beach, CA; seven grandchildren; two great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel on April 10, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.


Memorials are preferred to the Marv Helling Memorial Football Scholarship at the University of North Dakota.