Mary Harmel

May 18, 1939-Oct. 3, 2024

Rugby

Mary Jo Harmel, 85, Rugby, died on October 3, 2024, in Rugby, was born May 18, 1939, at Leeds to Harold E. and Winifred (Sosalla) Blegen. She was raised on the family farm south of York, and attended Twin Lake School #3 and York Grade School. She graduated from Leeds High School in 1957 and continued her education at Mayville State Teacher’s College and Minot State College, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She also attended McConnell Airline School in Minneapolis and worked for Northwest Airlines in New York City.

Mary Jo taught school at Pelican Rural School #3, and Grafton, Towner, and Leeds. She spent the last 19 years of her teaching career at Ely Elementary School in Rugby ND.

Mary Jo was united in marriage to Roland Harmel on November 23, 1962. They became the parents of the children Karla, Kathleen, and Thomas.

Mary Jo enjoyed working with children at her church, St. Pauls’ Lutheran in Rugby. She served as an officer in the LWML, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the church council. She was also a 4H Leader, a member of REA, NDEA, Chataqua Reading council, and the NEA, and Red Hats of Rugby. She served as a Meyer Township clerk for many years. She enjoyed reading, traveling to Norway and England, and gardening.

She is survived by her children, Karla Harmel, Kathleen (Todd) Schwab, and Tom Harmel, all of Rugby. Three grandchildren, Justin Schwan, Alyssa Schwan and Siana Schwab, all of Rugby. Two sisters, Diane (Jim) Ogann of Marion, IA, and Vikki (Curtis) McCleary of Angle Inlet, MN, and sister in law, Georgine Blegen. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Winifred, brother, Owen, an infant brother, Orlin, and her husband, Roland Harmel.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rugby on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with burial following at Persilla Watts Cemetery in Rugby. Visitation will be at the Niewoehner Funeral Home in Rugby on Thursday with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Friends may call at the church an hour before the service. www.niewoehnerfh.com 701-776-6222.

Published by The PIerce County Tribune, October 12, 2024.