Obituary of Helen Mabel Martin

Helen M. Martin, 92 Helen Martin passed away peacefully at her home on August 25, 2021. Services for Helen of St. Paul, formerly of Starbuck, will be held on Friday, September 3, 2021, at 11 am at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Avenue, St. Paul. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service and burial will follow at Dawn Valley Cemetery, Bloomington. Helen Martin was born March 13, 1929, to Edward and Minnie Hanson, in Maddock, ND. The family moved to Minneapolis in 1944. In 1951 she welcomed a daughter, Debbie. On October 17, 1964, Helen married Ernie Martin, a widower with three sons, Jeff, Larry, and Steve. The family moved to Eden Prairie in 1965. Ernie passed away in January, 1986. Helen remained in their Eden Prairie family home until July 1989 when she retired and moved to Starbuck. Helen enjoyed her retirement in Starbuck. She was an active member of Indherred Lutheran Church. She kept busy volunteering at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home, Starbuck Senior Center and Nursing Home Auxiliary. Helen made a host of friends. She enjoyed playing Hand and Foot, Rummikub, and quilting. She made quilts for her grandchildren and many mission quilts for the church. Helen was an avid collector of cardinals-her grandchildren counted over 200 items in her collection! Helen's family is thankful for her friends who had drivers' licenses and cars who provided rides as she never learned to drive. Helen moved to St. Paul in September 2016 to be near her daughter. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Ernie, parents Edward and Minnie Hanson, sons Jeff and Larry, son-in-law Jerry McNiff, brothers Maynard and Elmer Hanson, beloved dogs Woody and Barney. She is survived by daughter Debbie McNiff, son Steve, grandchildren Kristie, Katina, Kylee, Michael, Jason and Joel, several great-grandchildren, brothers Bud (Louise), Kenneth and Marvin Hanson, daughters-in-law Connie Smykowski and Sherry Martin, special nephew and niece Jim and Jackie Hanson, several nieces, nephews, and many friends. Service 11AM Friday, September 3, 2021, at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-228-1006. Visitation 1 hour before service. Service 11AM Friday, September 3, 2021, at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-228-1006. Visitation 1 hour before service.