Helen Vivian Rushton, 99, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, at her home in Austin.

Helen was born on April 21, 1920 on the family farm near Austin in Lansing Township, Minnesota. She was the fifth child of seven children of Carl and Hannah (Munson) Larson. At the age of six, she moved with her family to another farm in the Brownsdale, Minnesota, area. She attended a country school through the eighth grade in Red Rock Township, Minnesota. At the age of 17, Helen worked as a nanny and housekeeper for Austin families. In 1937, Helen met Paul “Curly” Rushton and later married him on April 15, 1939. They were married in a Lutheran church in Northwood, Iowa, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1999. Together they raised five children. Helen was a homemaker and a stay at home mom. In 1943, they purchased a home in Crane Addition. They were members at Crane Community Chapel, where Helen enjoyed working with the Women’s Missionary Society. She also enjoyed making quilts that were sent to orphanages in Mexico. Helen loved working on many projects. She enjoyed her vacation times at the cabin with family and friends and loved traveling to see the fall colors and the beauty of each state. She saw many changes in her lifetime. In 2006, Helen was a survivor of cancer for 12 years. Then in 2018, she was again diagnosed with breast cancer.

Survivors include her children, James Rushton of Austin, David (Lavonne) Rushton of Austin, Karen Maxfield of Austin, Barbara Rushton of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Michael (Gloria) Rushton of Puyallup, Washington; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, whom she loved very much and enjoyed their visits. Helen was the last child of Carl and Hannah Larson to pass.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Hannah Larson; husband, Paul “Curly” Rushton; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Rushton; grandsons, Jamie Rushton and Brian Ripka; brothers, Chester, George and Lawrence Larson; and sisters, Alma Mallan, Stella Luthe and Ruth DeMets-Young.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, at Crane Community Chapel in Austin. Visitation will take place one hour before the service on Monday at the church. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery in Austin. Memorials are preferred to Crane Community Chapel or recipient of donor’s choice. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.