Helen A. Bellin

Helen Agnes (Frenning) Bellin, age 95, formerly of Fairmont, Minnesota, departed this earthly life Saturday, March 14th, 2026, secure in her belief of being welcomed into the arms of Jesus. She recently sat between her daughters and sang out a testament to her faith, “Because He Lives.”

Helen was born on September 11, 1930, to loving parents, Olaf and Agnes (Waller) Frenning. Picture a young Helen standing on an ice cream churn while her dad turned the crank, or running barefoot across a cow pasture, one of seven children on their Stacy, Minnesota farm. She grew up learning to sew and play piano. Helen tagged along to victory dances with her older sisters during WWII. When nieces and nephews were born, she valued her role as Auntie Helen and kept lifelong connections with her dear extended family.

Helen graduated with honors in math and commercial studies from Forest Lake High School in 1948. She worked for the State of Minnesota in Saint Paul and eventually in several counties with the MN Crop and Livestock Reporting Service.

Floyd Humble Bellin became the dance partner of Helen’s life, and oh, how beautifully they glided on the dance floor. They got married on March 3, 1951, despite a blizzard that buried even the tractors in snow the morning of their wedding day.

For over 40 years it was Helen and Floyd raising five children, first in Southern California during Floyd’s service in the US Marines and finally in Fairmont, Minnesota. In 1959 Grace Lutheran Church and community became second home base for their faith, charitable work and for lifelong friendships. Helen and Floyd moved to the country to be close to rural life. When a blizzard was on its way across the prairie, their long driveway on Buffalo Lake was an excuse to invite friends to “come get snowed in with us.” They developed Farm and Home Management relationships and more lifelong friends resulted. They took their family tent camping across the provinces of Canada. They went on fishing trips, even holding hands walking back through the campground from the fish cleaning houses. Helen designated herself “chief cook and bottle washer” and traveled with a box of library books. She supported year-round 4-H activities, academics, sports, and the arts, but dancing with Floyd was her favorite!

In addition, she enjoyed sewing clothing, gardening, and canning. Because Helen loved to learn, she taught herself to play the organ for the members at church and the Eastern Star, and took classes in swimming and furniture reupholstery. Helen and Floyd then became carpenters, and with their sons built a home ‘in town’ on Anna Street near wonderful new neighbors.

They hosted couples’ card parties, became Christmas Tree growers, fox-trotted their way into retirement, and nurtured their growing family.

But way too soon, Helen needed home care for Floyd and engaged the services of the newly formed Martin County Hospice. By 1994 Helen found herself learning to dance alone. So, she joined a line dancing group, traveled with treasured friends, volunteered at the community hospital, and honed her quilt-making skills with new friends at Prairie Star Quilters’ Guild. Many homes and hearts were blessed by her love of quilting and through her thoughtful gifts. In 2015, when the responsibilities of home ownership outweighed the pleasure of overlooking Lincoln Park and Lake George, Helen moved to the Twin Cities to be near family, including her brother Don and many Frenning and Waller cousins as well as three of her children. As her short-term memory declined, more stories surfaced, and Helen’s oral history was shared. She relished telling about her early life. In her last days, Helen knew all her loved ones by name and face.

Preceding Helen in death, besides her parents and husband Floyd, were all six of her siblings and spouses, Lawrence (Carolyn “Sis”) Frenning, Margaret (Rodney Nelson and Vern Holmgren), Edna (John) Freed, Eleanor (Rodney) Shogren, Donald (Dorothy) Frenning, Robert (Norma) Frenning; sister-in-law, Beverly (Wayne) Lundgren; grandson, Travis Floyd Bellin; godson, David Lundgren; and another lovely dancing partner, her son, Bruce Bellin.

Left to cherish Helen’s life: son, Gary (Wendy) Bellin, daughters, Joan (Rick O’Connor) Bellin, Sandra (Duane) Gebers, Cheryl (Jim Rauh) Bellin; beloved grandchildren, Amanda, Christina, Hallie (Matt), Will (Valerie), Eric (Laura), Hannah (Eric), Bekkah (Orlin), Abby, and Erin (Greg); delightful great grandkids, Ezekiel, Juniper, Sofia, Noah, Kira, Zara, Sylvan, and Jonathan; dear nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Knowing Helen meant appreciating her keen sense of humor. She used her wit to foster connection and could often lighten a tense situation by making people smile. Knowing Helen likely also meant receiving a personal letter from her with a final closing: hugs and love, Helen

The family would like to thank the incredible staff at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospice and Suite Living Anoka for their love, care, and support during this time.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 27, 2026, at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, North Branch, Minnesota.