Margaret Pauline Helsel, 87 years old of Seattle, Washington, passed away at 10:30 a.m on Saturday, May 4, 2013 in the Foss Home & Village located in Seattle, Washington. Margaret was born on Sunday, April 25, 1926 in Decatur, Indiana the daughter of the late Wilbur Hawkins and the late Mable (Burkhardt) Hawkins. She married Marvin P. Helsel Sr. on August 25, 1947 in Decatur, Indiana and he survives. Margaret was a member of the Decatur Church of God and the Fairview Church in Seattle. She started teaching Sunday School at the age of 13. She was a life time member of the National Education Association. Margaret was a graduate of Pleasant Mills High School Class of 1944. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Anderson College in 1948 and a Master of Arts in Reading from Ball State University in 1959. Her teaching career spanned 25 years and included Public Schools in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Kansas. As a Pastor's wife, she served various churches along with her husband. Margaret and her husband, served as missionaries to the Crow Nation from 1980 to 1987 in Crow Agency, Montana. Surviving are her husband, Marvin P. Helsel of Seattle, WA; daughter, Marlene (Dan) Fortney of Elkridge, MD; son, Marvin P. (Karen) Helsel Jr. of Sunnyside, WA; son, Mark P. (Cheri Dracobly) Helsel of Seattle, WA; foster sister, Brenda Bullshows of Crow Agency, MT. Preceding Margaret in death were four brothers, Forrest, Virgil, Charley, Emmitt Hawkins. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2013 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home with Pastor Sandy Hildebrand officiating. Interment will follow in the Backesto/Spring Hill, Monroe, Indiana. Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, IN. Preferred memorials are to Huntington's Disease Society of America.
