Helen was born in Bellie, Banffshire, Scotland on February 26. 1833 to William and Isabella (Henderson) Hay. She was the second child of 8.

Between 1842 and 1846 the family moved to Canada and settled in Nichol, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married George Milne on December 5, 1856 in Elora.  By 1871 they had eight children, and had moved to Parry Sound, Ontario. 

In 1879 most of the family moved to Dakota Territory, settling in what would later be Cavalier, North Dakota.  Helen outlived George by a few months, and died on November 8, 1921 at the age of 88.  They are both buried in Soper Cemetery.