Helma Lein, age 106, has finally decided to join Lions.

Lion Helma – who lives in Dickinson, North Dakota -- has joined the Wing, North Dakota, Lions Club. She was a longtime resident of Wing, and her late husband, Ray, was district governor in 5NW in 1959-60 when they lived in Wing. The Wing Lions Club is now part of District 5NE.

Lion Helma has a lot of knowledge about Lions. She has been to at least five international conventions (“Possibly more,” according to her son, Rob Lein) and countless Multiple District 5 and North Dakota state conventions. Rob is also a past district governor, and Lion Helma’s brother-in-law, Lindy Lein, served as a district governor in the 1960s. Both Ray and Lindy have been enshrined in the North Dakota Lions Hall of Fame.

Despite her age, Lion Helma has been extremely active, especially with writing. She has been writing poems and stories over the past few years, and recently compiled them into a book entitled, “Just the Write Age.”

“Her mind is extremely sharp,” Rob said. “She’s just amazing. She won’t make it to many Lions meetings, if any, but I hope by being a Lion, she will be an inspiration to us all.”

It’s safe to say Lion Helma is now the oldest member of the Wing Lions Club and the oldest Lion in District 5NE. She may, however, be the oldest member in MD5 … and possibly all of Lions International.