Mary Klingler

Mary Elizabeth (Rupp) Klingler passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 2nd, 2024, at the youthful age of 99. Mary was born August 11th, 1925, in Edgeley, North Dakota and was the youngest of 7 children. Growing up on the family farm she had many chores including making coffee for the farm hands, feeding the calves and tending to the chickens. She also had the duty of pulling her older but much smaller brother in the wagon to the one-room schoolhouse, uphill (both ways of course). This is likely where she developed her strong work ethic and grit.

During Mary’s long and full life, she witnessed many of society’s modernizations such as indoor plumbing, electricity, television – both black and white and then in color, and much to her dismay, cellphones, particularly her iPhone. She also lived through many historical events including The Great Depression, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement just to name a few.

Mary lived to serve others, including her country, which is why she enlisted in World War II as an air cadet. But shortly before she was set to be deployed the war ended. She worked briefly for Aberdeen County Treasurer’s Office, but knew there was more to life than being bored sitting behind a desk. Mary put herself through nursing school and became a private nurse in Aberdeen. She moved to Minneapolis in 1949, became a surgical nurse at then Swedish Hospital (now HCMC), where she met her husband Bob whom she married in 1950. She then moved on to be a surgical nurse at North Memorial, where she eventually retired in1990.

Mary and Bob had 5 children – Chuck, Kathy, Mary Jane, Patti and John. She had 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, not including those who became her ‘adopted’ family along the way. Mary was devoted to her faith, family and friends. She always volunteered wherever she was needed – whether that be at her kids’ school, Harvest Festival, helping at funerals, or working at the church gift shop. She wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves.

Mary always kept active and had a tough time sitting still even up until the very end. She kept her hands busy by crafting, sewing, gardening, canning or satisfying her sweet tooth by making lemon bars, buckeyes, or her famous fudge. She would relax by bird watching, shooting at squirrels that would invade her bird feeders and 1 accidental deer – hence her nickname Granny Oakly.

Mary will be greatly missed for her caring demeanor, kindness, perseverance, strength, independence and most of all her loving heart.

Preceded in death by husband, Robert; son, Charles; and daughter, Kathleen. Survived by children, Mary Jane, Patti, John; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many other friends & family.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30AM Friday, 9/20, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 9100 93^rd Ave N., Brooklyn Park with visitation starting at 9:30AM. Interment at St. Vincent’s Cemetery.