Mary Jelsing
Dec. 23, 1943-July 19, 2024
Rugby
Mary Louise Jelsing gave this world 80 beautiful years and left peacefully, in her home, to be reunited with her husband Dwight Jelsing in heaven on Friday July 19, 2024. Mary was born December 23, 1943, the baby of the family to Clarissa (Karlsbraaten) and Henry Reierson. Mary graduated from Esmond High School, attended Mayville State University for a short time before meeting the love of her life, Dwight Jelsing. Mary and Dwight were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Esmond on August 21, 1965. From then on the story really unfolds. They built a beautiful family. Raising 4 daughters, 13 grand children and 3 great grandchildren. Grandma Mary was their biggest fan, cheering them all on in life. Mary took care of her family like that’s what she was put on this earth to do. She loved them, she guided them, she worried about them, she laughed with them, she cried with them, but most importantly she prayed for them. When Mary wasn’t taking care of her family she was taking care of others, even in her work at the Senior Citizens Center – Rugby. She made sure her seniors were not only fed but she made long lasting friendships with them. Mary was a regular at the Rugby Public Library. She loved to get lost in a book and could often be found sitting on her back patio enjoying a cup of coffee and one of many books she would read that week. What made Mary so wonderful at caring for others was her faith and love for Jesus. She woke up every day with a grateful heart and knew just how to be the light of God through her every day living. Mary was a faithful member and taught Sunday School for several years at Bethany Lutheran Church, she helped in the planning and organizing of several church events. Upon the closing of Bethany, Mary didn’t miss a beat and quickly became involved with First Lutheran Church. She was part of the quilting club, Bible study and recently planned the Friendship Tea. She was also on the Board of the Tunbridge Lutheran Church Preservation Society. To Mary, family was everything. Whether it was her own family of her sisters and her brother and their children or Dwight’s side of the family, Mary always made sure that the family got together regularly. She was the go to aunt whom her nieces and nephews would call with good news or stop by for coffee and a visit. Those visits were so special to her and she cherished each one of them. Mary’s love was big and part of her ‘family’ included her coffee club friends. A close knit group that would gather in each other’s homes weekly, to enjoy one another’s company. These ladies made the Golden Girls look boring. They celebrated birthdays like no other and consoled each other through losing loved ones. They were very special to Mary. The best friends she could ever ask for. Mary is survived by her daughters Jill McClintock (Rob St. Michel) Rugby; Marlee (Darin) Meschke Bismarck; Dana (Jason) Henke Minot; Christy Jelsing Bismarck; her grandchildren: Brett (Brookelle) McClintock, Brooks McClintock, Alex McClintock, Jack (Lauren) McClintock, Kellie (Josh) Rohrich, Abbie Meschke, Grace Meschke, Rhett Bjork, Rachel Bjork, Julia Bjork, Ian Jelsing, Quin Hafner, Ella Hafner. Great grand children Jude McClintock and Beckett and Jameson Rohrich and nieces and nephews, cousins, and great nieces and nephews. And several Grand Dogs. She was preceded into death by her husband, her parents Clarissa and Henry Reierson; her in laws Arthur and Clara Jelsing, her brother Merton Reierson and his wife Virginia. Sisters: Dorothy Adam, Ellen Truax, Lavonne Bengson. Brothers in law: Al Adam, Basil Truax, William Bengson. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 26, 2024 at 10:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Rugby. She will be laid to rest next to her soulmate, Dwight, at Persilla Watts Cemetery Rugby.
Visitation will be at the Niewoehner Funeral Home in Rugby on Thursday, July 25th from 5-7 PM and an hour before the service at the church. Memories may be shared at www.niewoehnerfh.com.
Published by The Pierce County Tribune, July 27, 2024.