Mary Helen Bakken, age 70, went to be with Jesus on Sunday, January 22, 2017. She passed away due to complications from lung cancer.  Services will be held in Havre on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the Messiah Lutheran Church, with an additional service and burial at Pleasant Prairie Church in Flaxville on Monday, January 30 ^th at 11:00 am. Memorial's in Mary Helen's name may be made to the Havre Animal Shelter, Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Church in Flaxville, or to the donor's choice. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Mary Helen's online memorial page at www.hollandbonine.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.

Mary Helen was born in Scobey, Montana on February 20, 1946, to Carl and Laura Ruud, and raised on the family farm homestead south of Flaxville, MT. She graduated from Scobey High School in 1964, and briefly attended the University of Montana in Missoula. She was so in love however, she needed to return to Scobey to be near her dear Irv. She then married that wonderful man from Opheim, Robert Irving Bakken, at Pleasant Prairie Church, south of Flaxville, on February 19, 1966.   They made their home in Opheim, where she later became the bookkeeper and office manager for 24 years at Northern Electric Co-Op, working there until retiring in 2005. She and Irv then moved to Havre, Montana, where they enjoyed their retirement together.

Mary Helen enjoyed playing the piano and organ, oil painting, sewing, playing Keno machines, looking at recipes on Facebook, and just relaxing with friends and family. She was a strong advocate and supporter for the many activities of her daughters and granddaughters, and always imparted her foundation of faith with those who needed it.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Carl and Laura Ruud.

Mary Helen is survived by her husband of 50 years, Robert Irving Bakken; daughters Lisa (Mark) Rochin of Polson, MT, and Sharlyn Bakken of Havre, MT; sister Lilla Barsness of Scobey; brother Norman (Elaine) Ruud of Billings; granddaughters Laura, Taylor and Megan; great-granddaughter Brinley; grandpuppy Spencer; a niece and several nephews.