Helen M. Austin, age 97, of Mabel, died Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel.
Helen was born July 2, 1920, in Mabel, Minn., to Oscar and Bernice (Lee) Thompson. She attended country schools in the Mabel area and graduated from the Mabel High School in 1938. After high school Helen attended beauty school and worked as a beautician. She later worked at Control Data in Spring Grove, but most of her life she worked hard on the farm. On June 25, 1941, she was united in marriage to Adrein Austin at the Newburg United Methodist Church in Newburg, Minn. They spent their life together farming on different farms, starting in the Preston area for a short time before moving to rural Mabel where they farmed until retiring and moving into Mabel. They enjoyed spending the winters in Florida, Texas, and then Yuma, Ariz. Adrein passed away February 9, 2006. Helen was a lifelong member of the Newburg United Methodist Church. She enjoyed going fishing, traveling, playing bingo, playing dice with the ladies on Wednesdays, and dancing with Adrein.
Helen is survived by five children: Dianne (Al) Havlik of Rochester, Minn., Dean (Arlene) of Mabel, Lamont of Mabel, Julie (Leon) Gunderson of Harmony, and Wayne (Terry) of Mabel; 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, a sister-in-law, Ethel Austin of Caledonia, Minn.; and a brother-in-law, Donald Ward of Onalaska, Wis. She was preceded in death by her husband Adrein, and her parents.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Newburg United Methodist Church in rural Mabel, with the Rev. Sharon Goetzinger officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.