HELEN VAN HULZEN was born to Peter and Jennie (De Yong) Tinklenberg on July 21, 1924, on the family farm in Osborne Township in Pipestone County, Minnesota. She was raised there and attended country school through the sixth grade before later finishing through the eighth grade at the Edgerton Christian School in Edgerton, Minnesota. She then worked for various households along with working for the Edgerton telephone company for few years. On August 23, 1949, Helen was united in marriage to Herman Van Hulzen at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. They continued to reside at Herman's farm for a couple of years before moving to a farm near Edgerton for ten years. During the next twenty years, Helen and Herman moved and farmed land in various places in Rock County, before selling the farming equipment. Herman then went to work at a hog operation for Dr. James R. Juhl north of Luverne, Minnesota. The couple lived and worked there for the next sixteen years. In October of 1984, Helen and Herman moved into a house in Luverne. Helen then helped take care of the elderly in their homes until she retired in 2000. In May of 2007, Herman became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. In May of 2010 Helen also became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home. Herman preceded her in death on April 5, 2011. Two weeks later, on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Helen died at the Sanford Luverne Hospital at the age of 86 years, 8 months and 28 days.

Helen was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, where she was a part of Ladies' Aide. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting, baking, canning, and caring for flowers. Most of all she loved spending time with all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her five children, Marianne and her husband Al Haveman of Wayland, Michigan, Jan and her husband Rog Reitsma of Chandler, Minnesota, Jim and his wife Linda of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Barb and her husband Verlyn Ruiter of Leota, Minnesota, and Faith and her husband Bob Prins of Chandler, Minnesota; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; four sisters, Mildred and her husband Charles Haack of Lombard, Illinois, Edna DeWilde of Edgerton, Minnesota, Marlys and her husband Jerry Keen of Wichita, Kansas, and Leola and her husband Cornie Wolterstorff of Newton, Iowa; a brother, Harris and his wife Rena Tinklenberg of Edgerton, Minnesota; and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; her parents; and three brothers, Albertus, Adrian, and Arnold.

Memorials are preferred to the Luverne Christian Reformed Church or the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.