The following is taken from a document produced by Vi (Flatau) Johnson:  Vi asked her mom, Elsie Flatau, many questions in January of 1988 when she was visiting Port Angeles.  The account was compiled by Vi in March 1988.  Minnie (Beckman) Heilman read it over in February 1988 to add a note or two.

Wilhelmine Martha "Minnie" Beckman 

Minnie worked for families in the Perham area doing housework such as Teckemeyer’s and Engebretson's.  When the Engebretsons moved to Cooperstown, North Dakota she went along. 

When she was 17 she went with Clint and Emma to Warroad, Minnesota to help Emma.  She went to Linton, North Dakota to work in a department store. 

After coming to Perham again she met John Plowman in a store.  She started talking to him after noticing his sore hand.  He lost his thumb in a gas engine accident.  They started a courtship and were married in December 1917 when Minnie was 20.  John died during the flu epidemic in 1918.  

She stayed at the Beckman farm with her young son and then went to Oregon to visit her brother Bill.  Here she met Fred Heilman (his sister is Bill's wife).  They were married February 20, 1921 when Fred was 31 and Minnie was 23.  

He worked as a lumber scaler and they lived in Vancouver, Washington; Woods, Oregon; and McMinnville, Oregon. 

They had six children.

Minnie Heilman’s obituary in the newspaper:

Graveside services for Minnie M. Heilman of McMinnville will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Evergreen Memorial Park. The Rev. Doug Rose of First Christian Church will officiate.

Mrs. Heilman died December 1, 1998 in Oakwood Country Place. She was 101.

Born May 2, 1897 in Perham Minnesota she was the daughter of August and Marie (Husen) Beckman.  She grew up and went to school and Perham.

She married John Plowman who preceded her in death in 1918.

She moved to Oregon City in 1920.  She and Frederick Heilman were married there on February 20, 1921.

Mrs. Heilman lived in several towns before settling in McMinnville in 1940.  She was a member of First Christian Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Evelyn Hummel and Irene Noffsinger both of McMinnville and Lorna Heilsel of Eugene; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was also preceded in death by her second husband Frederick Heilman in 1959; by two sons; one stepson; three brothers and five sisters.

See below to continue with the BECKMAN FAMILY photos and stories.

Beckman Family (home)  -  Kinstories (home)  -  Johnson Family  -  Susag Family  -  Flatau Family   
Granquist Family  -  Anderson Family  -  Stout Family  -  Walker Family  - Peterson Family  -  Morris Family  - Cauble Family