Phil Helland, landscaping visionary and developer of iconic state projects, dies at 83

Sioux Falls native founded Landscape Garden Centers and served on several boards

Phil Helland

Phil Helland, a pioneering figure in South Dakota’s landscaping industry and the founder of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls, died Saturday. He was 83.

Helland’s journey in landscaping began at Lakeland Nurseries in Watertown, where he cultivated his deep love for plants and design. In 1977, he brought that passion to Sioux Falls, opening Lakeland Nurseries, which later became Landscape Garden Centers in 1989. Though he passed the business to his son Erik and a longtime partner Paul Dejong in 2002, Phil remained an integral part of the team, always sharing his wisdom and love for nature.