March 29, 1944 – April 1, 2023
JAMES HENRY HELM, of Lacombe, Alberta, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2023.
His spirit is carried on by his three children; Lisa, Jon (Marya), and Jeffrey (Melanie); his grandchildren Oliver and Lorraine; and all the people he has encouraged and worked with over the years. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Jim was predeceased by his wife, Susan Carol Berlin, parents and two brothers; Michael Francis Helm, and John Carl Helm.
Jim was born on March 29, 1944, in Snohomish, Washington, the middle son of Carl Levi Helm and Frances Gertrude Micheau. He met his future wife, Susan, in grade school. They grew up together, were high school sweethearts, and married in 1965 while Jim was completing his Doctorate.
Jim came to Alberta in 1973 and, from crates of seed, built up, developed, and led the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC); a world-class crop research center that had a huge impact on the agriculture industry in Alberta, Canada, and internationally. Jim received many scientific accolades over his lifetime and was inducted in the Alberta Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2002.
Just as important as his scientific accomplishments, Jim’s philanthropy also left a legacy. Jim not only supported a variety of causes, and was active in leadership at St. Andrews United Church in Lacombe, but he also worked with Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) in Lacombe to create and generously fund new programs that ensured health, wellness, and opportunities for all children in the community, with the one nearest and dearest to his heart, being the Caring for Children Fund.
A Memorial Service will be held at ST. ANDREWS UNITED CHURCH, 5226-51st Avenue, Lacombe, AB on June 4th, 2023, at 2:00 P.M.
Memorial gifts in Jim’s memory can be made to Lacombe & District Family and Community Support Services, Caring for Children Fund – 5214 50 Ave #201, Lacombe, Alberta, T4L 0B6.
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com.

Cornerstone Funeral Home