Helen Marie Hively Van Winkle

The funeral service for Helen Marie Van Winkle, 86, of Balaton, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2019, at Sillerud Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at the Remembrance Center in Balaton. Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Friday at Sillerud Lutheran Church. Due to weather conditions, interment will take place at Sillerud Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.

Helen Marie Van Winkle was born on January 12, 1933, in Lyons Township to Earl and May (Spear) Hively. She attended country school at the Red Top School House and later Russell High School. In 1951, she was united in marriage to Arnold Van Winkle at Trinity Lutheran Church. The couple farmed and raised their family northwest of Balaton. Helen worked hard on the farm. She had a flower and vegetable garden and produced most of the family's food. She also enjoyed sewing and crafts. In 1988, the couple moved to town. Helen worked for Johnson's Poultry Farm for a time. She also worked for the Colonial Manor in Balaton as a CNA and in the activities department. Helen earned her GED later in life while at the same time working at Colonial Manor and completing the duties of a full time farmer's wife. She belonged to a neighborhood club called the Goodwill Club and was an active member of Sillerud Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and Bible School.

Helen died on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton. She is survived by her husband Arnold of Balaton; children Betty Ustanko (and Leland Eslinger) of Colman, SD, Gary (and Wendy) Van Winkle of Echo, Darlene Sjoberg of Willmar, and Mary (and Brad) Turtle of Gibbon; 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; sister Alice Gray of Iowa and sisters-in-law Betty Hively of Fargo, ND and Evelyn Hively of Marshall; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ray, Clifford and Ralph "Budd" Hively and sister Gladys Olson.

Memorials preferred St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the Shriner's Hospital for Children, Sillerud Lutheran Church, or the Balaton Meals on Wheels Program.

Blessed Be Her Memory