Helen Rushton

Helen Vivian Rushton, age 99 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at her home in Austin. Helen was born on April 21, 1920. She was the 5th child of seven children of Carl and Hannah (Munson) Larson. Helen was born on the family farm near Austin, Minnesota, in Lansing Township. At the age of six, she moved with her family to another farm in the Brownsdale area. She attended a country school through the eighth grade in Red Rock Township. At the age of seventeen, Helen worked as a nanny and house keeper for Austin families. In 1937, Helen met Paul “Curly” Rushton and later married him on April 15th, 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, MN, David (Lavonne) Rushton of Austin, MN, Karen Maxfield of Austin, MN, Barbara Rushton of Owatonna, MN, Michael (Gloria) Rushton of Puyallup, WA; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren, whom are loved very much and enjoyed their visits. Helen was the last sibling 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 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21, 2019 at Crane Community Chapel in Austin. Visitation will take place one hour before the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, 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.