Mary Willnow
Mary (Sheldon) Willnow, of Elgin, passed away on January 1, 2022 at the age of 80.
As I write this, I am filled with sorrow, yet feelings of joy and anticipation. Sorrow in the loss of my beloved wife and constant companion of 60 years, joy in knowing she is now safe and free of all worldly pain and suffering, and anticipation of the day we will be together again.
Mary was born October 13, 1941, to Roger and Anne (Schaumberg) of Falkirk, ND. She grew up in Falkirk with her parents and brother, Charles and attended school in Washburn. School years found her involved in band, chorus, FHA, cheerleading, and Glee Club. She was also an avid reader and an accomplished pianist.
After graduating high school in 1960, Mary attended UND where we met and were soon married. She put her degree on hold and worked while I completed school. In 1965, we moved to Mott, ND where I worked for Hettinger County Schools and Mary was busy raising our family and attending classes at Dickinson State College.
1970 found us moving to Havre, MT where Mary completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and later her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She was employed by the Havre Public School District and taught some classes at Northern Montana State until our retirement in 2000. The next three years found us living in Laughlin, NV and working for the Clark County School District.
Mary dearly loved camping and traveling and so we traveled full time for the next several years before settling in Elgin, ND.
While in Elgin, Mary was active in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and busy satisfying her love of reading and books by playing an active role in the development of the city library. Her time was now spent volunteering at the library doing counted cross stitching and accompanying me in hunting and fishing.
Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and eventually became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society in Mott where she resided until her passing. Mary is survived by
Mary is survived by her husband, Art, Regent, ND; three sons and daughters-in-law, Todd and Brenda Willnow, Mandan, ND; Brian and Jennifer Willnow, Manassas, VA; Kevin Willnow, Seattle, WA; three grandchildren, Chandra, Jordan, and Kyle; one great granddaughter, Elliana; and her brother, Charles, Mesa, AZ. She was preceded
She was preceded in death by her parents, Roger and Ann Sheldon.
A memorial has been established to the Elgin Public Library and the Mott Good Samaritan Society.
The Funeral Service for Mary will be held at 11:00 a.m. MT, Thursday, January 13, 2022, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin. Pastor John Amundson will officiate with burial in the Regent Cemetery.
The Funeral Service will be livestreamed on the website www. evansonjensenfuneralhome.com and going to Mary’s obituary and clicking on “View Funeral Service Here”.
Special music will be provided by Annette Roth, organist.
Serving as casketbearers are Kim Kostelecky, Gary Schmaltz, Jeff Sheldon, Arden Wagner, Jordan and Kyle Willnow.
Honorary Casketbearer is Perry Kirschemann.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Mott and on Thursday one hour prior to services at the church in Elgin.