Minnie Belle (Waters) Robb Hesla was born on April 26, 1868, in Rose Hill, Mahaska County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Evaline (Jarvis) and Samuel Bert “Doc” Waters.

She married James Robb (1861-1888) on September 23, 1886, in Oskaloosa, Manaska County, Iowa. He died shortly after their marriage, leaving her with a young son, Charles Fremont Robb (1888-1972), who later served as Mayor of Prescott, Arizona from 1933 to1937.  On March 5, 1892, she married Olaf Andrew Hesla (1868-1957), an optometrist and jeweler, in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa. They had one daughter, Irene, who was born on January 3, 1893 in Tama, Tama County, Iowa. They came to Arizona in 1898. In 1907, Olaf purchased the George H. Cook Jewelry store. In the 1940s, Charles took over running the jewelry store.

Minnie was one of the founders of the Monday Club and treasurer of the Public Library Board. She belonged to the First Congregational Church, where she was president of Fellowship and where the communion table in the Chancel is a joint memorial to her and Florence Mae (Wilson) Herndon.

Minnie was a very energetic, fastidious person and was always involved with social activities. She played bridge and golf regularly.  She took immaculate care of herself and the Hesla home, which was located at 141 South Mt. Vernon Avenue.   

The Journal Miner of July 22, 1903, announced the arrival of a Hesla automobile in Prescott, along with automobiles owned by the Anderson, Foster, and Aitken families.  The Heslas enjoyed automobile road trips and traveling with these other families.  They named their automobile outing group "HESANDFOSAIT." The name was derived from the first three initials of each family's name.

Minnie died on August 20, 1949, in Prescott and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.  Irene (Hesla) Tannebaum, her daughter, lived in Los Angeles, California.

Donor: Olaf Andrew Hesla, husband
Photo Located: Harland Ludwig Collection - PB-4, F-77-169, I-584
Updated: 2/18/2016, Gretchen Hough Eastman