Marian Helling, 94, Bismarck, North Dakota, formerly of Luverne, died Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, after a brief illness.
A family memorial service will take place at a future date at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Marian Olson was born March 17, 1926, to Theodore and Laura Olson on a dairy farm south of Kenneth. She attended a nearby one-room school house, then attended Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota, and then Mankato State Teachers College, where she earned her teaching certifications. Marian began her teaching career in the elementary school in Adrian. She then returned to Luverne for the remainder of her teaching career. She loved teaching kindergarten classes over the many years and enjoyed meeting her past students later on as adults.
Marian married Gordon Helling on June 26, 1949, at Zion Lutheran Church in Luverne. They lived in Luverne during their entire marriage and raised two children. They also looked after their parents.
In addition to her career in education, Marian and her husband enjoyed dancing at the VFW and taking family trips to northern Minnesota and Colorado. Gordy died in 2003, and Marian remained in Luverne until moving to Bismarck in 2019 to be closer to family.
Marian loved arts and crafts, listening to music, and excelled in playing both the piano and the organ, particularly music from the 1940s. She also enjoyed tending her flower garden and visiting with neighbors. Marian also would offer a summer retreat for her grandchildren and put her teaching skills to work to their delight.
Marian is survived by her children Valerie (Tim) Majors of New Salem, North Dakota, and Grant Helling of Louisville, Colorado; three grandchildren, Katherine (Jordan) Dittmann of New York Mills, Carolyn (Nathan) Schmidt of Bismarck, and Grant Majors of Bismarck; and three great-grandchildren, Parker, Emily and Liam.
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