Mary (Rehmann) Helbing was born circa 1905 in New Jersey. She was the sixth child of Christian Wilhelm and Ida (Scull) Rehmann.

The 1910 census shows them living on Park Avenue in Vineland Borough, Cumberland County, New Jersey. For the 1920 census, they resided at 102 West Foundry St., Millville, Cumberland County, NJ. Mary was listed as a looper in the hosiery industry.