Royce Ralph Helmbrecht, age 75, of Austin, Minnesota, went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 13, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. Royce was born December 7, 1947, to Ralph and Phyllis (Wyttenbach) Helmbrecht in Owatonna, Minnesota. He was raised on a farm in southeastern Minnesota and attended country school through the 6th grade. Royce graduated from Hayfield High School in 1965, then went on to attend Augsburg College, where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics education in 1969. Royce then continued his education at the University of Minnesota, where he finished his advanced degrees. In December of 1969, he was drafted into the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam War. In 1971, he was honorably discharged from the service.