Memorial services for Helen Margaret Bucklin, 77, of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2011, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Chapel. Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Helen died Tuesday, April 12, at her home.

Helen was born on Dec. 27, 1933, to Mary and Elmer Meister of Austin. She had four sisters and one brother. She attended school in Austin. She enjoyed playing the piano and violin. While a junior in high school she started working in the accounting department at Jay C. Hormel and Co. She worked there until after George and Helen were married and George Kane was born. In the next 2.5 years they had two more sons, Robin Lee and David Todd. She quit her job to raise their three sons. Seven years later, Jeanne Ellen was born; and in two more years, Jayne Elizabeth was born. Helen was a full-time mother and homemaker for 20 years. Her husband George of 57 years, was a bricklayer and stone mason. In 1973, the family moved to Albert Lea to own and run the Donut Kettle. Husband, George and son, David were bakers, the girls, Jeanne and Jayne worked with customers, and Helen was in charge of the employees, books and payroll. Helen usually had a craft project and enjoyed a game of bridge, 500 and “31” with her grandkids. She was a loving, caring and supportive mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She battled cancer for many years and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, George M. Bucklin of Albert Lea; sons, George K. (Uan) Bucklin of Bangkok, Thailand, David T. (Joyce) Bucklin of Mountain Lake, Minn., and their children, David of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Anna (Ryan) Gerber and daughter, Cameron of Ankeny, Iowa, Dima and Nadya of Mountain Lake; daughter, Jeanne E. (Scott) O’Neal and their children, Ryan and Jordan of Houston, Texas, and daughter, Jayne E. (Chad) Iverson of Hayward, Minn., and their children Emma and Noah, both of Hayward; granddaughter, Laurel Bucklin of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Barb, Mary Jo and Suzanne; and brother, Charles.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; son, Robin Lee; and her oldest sister, Elizabeth Roehrich.