Helen Marie Needham

Helen “Muggs” Marie Needham, 76, of Red Lake, died Monday, April 25, 2011, at the Red Lake Hospital in Red Lake.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Red Lake, with the Rev. Jerry Rogers officiating. A wake will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service each evening at the Red Lake Community Center and go until the time of service on Friday. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Red Lake, under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bernice Donnell, Jane Ryan, Eve Beaulieu, Margaret Rose Rusch, Debbie Chaboyea, Charmaine Branchaud, Lisa DeFoe and Beverly King.

Active pallbearers will be Jordan Neadeau, Patrick “Jake” DesJarlait, John Needham, Dean Branchaud, Mylen Brummond, Jarvis King, Jim King and Robert Needham, Jr.

She was born March 31, 1935, to William and Emma (Barrett) King in Red Lake. She was born and raised in Red Lake. She was married to Douglas “Pug” Needham in August of 1954. They moved to California in 1958, living in Venice and Santa Monica. They moved back to Red Lake in 1976. She worked at the day care for several years and later at the Red Lake Trading Post for over 20 years, since the first day it opened, retiring in 2010. She liked bowling, bingo, puzzles, gardening and needlework.

She is survived by her sons, Doug (Lisa) Needham of Ft. Ripley, Minn., Bob (Missy) Needham, Jim Needham and Rick Needham all of Red Lake; brothers, George (Judy) King and James (Evie) King both of Red Lake; sister, Ethel “Babe” Sorenson of Bismarck, N.D.; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband (1988); infant daughter; a grandson; brothers, Adolf, Robert and Leo; and a sister, Anna.

Messages of condolence may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.