Helen L. Miner

Helen Louise Miner, 96, died Thursday, December 29, 2005 at Bortz Health Care in West Branch where she had been a resident for five years. She was born on December 4, 1909 in Bristol, Tenn., the daughter of Mark and Corintha Withrow. Her family moved to Allegan, Mich., in 1923 and Helen graduated from Allegan High School in 1927. Five years later, her sister had a date with Hollis W. Miner, the man who eventually became Helen's husband of 64 years. Helen told her sister that day, "You may have the first date, but I'm going to have the next one." Hollis and Helen were married in Allegan, August 1, 1934, and moved to Montgomery, MI. and then to Pittsford, MI., near Hillsdale where their three children were born. In 1947 the family moved to West Branch, where Hollis became principal of West Branch High School. Helen worked over the years selling World Book encyclopedias and was also a retail clerk at Golden's Men's Store and Blumenthal's Dry Goods. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, playing the piano, collecting antiques, and staying active in many aspects of the West Branch community. Helen was a member of the Tolfree Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, was a charter member of Loggin'Wheels chapter of Questers and was involved with the Order of Eastern Star. Helen was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 60 years - long enough to still refer to the church on Fairview Road, built in 1966, as "the new church." After Hollis retired as principal in 1969, they wintered in Florida for 25 years. They owned a moblie home there and made many great friends. She is survived by a sister, Frances Mutchler of Kalamazoo, her three children, Hollis L.(Mary) Miner of West Branch; Donald (Bonita) Miner of West Branch; and Barbara (Robert) Nicolini of Clearwater, Fla; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two nephews and a niece. She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin brother, who died at birth, a sister Dorothy Larson and her husband, Hollis in 1998. Family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, January 1, 2006 at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. Funeral Services will be held Monday, January 2, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in West Branch. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Bortz Health Care of West Branch.