Mary Elizabeth (Berg) Westphal, age 99, died on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Northern Lakes Senior Living in Brainerd. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Will in May of 2016; her parents; brother, John and sister, Betty Lehtola.
Mary was born on November 16, 1919 in Howard Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of William O. and Blanche (Varner) Berg. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hermon Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Annandale. Mary graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1937 and Buffalo Teachers’ Training in 1938.
She was a teacher in Wright County Schools for seven years when the love of her life, Wilfred A. Westphal, returned from overseas in World War II. They were united in marriage on March 31, 1945 at the church where Mary was confirmed. They were blessed with three sons – William, Scott, and John.
Minneapolis was their home until 1958 when they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota when Will became the first civilian fire chief at the air base. This was their home for almost 40 years.
Mary loved being involved there with her church. She taught Sunday school and Bible school for 25 years, served on the church council and church women’s board, and was secretary of Church Women United. She delivered home meals for 17 years and served on the Valley Memorial Homes board.
Being involved with her family’s activities was dearly cherished by her. Mary and Will enjoyed traveling, golfing, square dancing, biking, and walking. In 1997, after they recovered from the flood, they moved to Baxter, Minnesota to be near family. It was sad to leave Grand Forks, but they came to love living here. Will and Mary celebrated 71 years of beautiful married life in March of 2016.
Mary was born on November 16, 1919 in Howard Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of William O. and Blanche (Varner) Berg. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hermon Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Annandale. Mary graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1937 and Buffalo Teachers’ Training in 1938.
She was a teacher in Wright County Schools for seven years when the love of her life, Wilfred A. Westphal, returned from overseas in World War II. They were united in marriage on March 31, 1945 at the church where Mary was confirmed. They were blessed with three sons – William, Scott, and John.
Minneapolis was their home until 1958 when they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota when Will became the first civilian fire chief at the air base. This was their home for almost 40 years.
Mary loved being involved there with her church. She taught Sunday school and Bible school for 25 years, served on the church council and church women’s board, and was secretary of Church Women United. She delivered home meals for 17 years and served on the Valley Memorial Homes board.
Being involved with her family’s activities was dearly cherished by her. Mary and Will enjoyed traveling, golfing, square dancing, biking, and walking. In 1997, after they recovered from the flood, they moved to Baxter, Minnesota to be near family. It was sad to leave Grand Forks, but they came to love living here. Will and Mary celebrated 71 years of beautiful married life in March of 2016.
Mary Elizabeth (Berg) Westphal, age 99, died on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Northern Lakes Senior Living in Brainerd. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Will in May of 2016; her parents; brother, John and sister, Betty Lehtola.
Mary was born on November 16, 1919 in Howard Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of William O. and Blanche (Varner) Berg. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hermon Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Annandale. Mary graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1937 and Buffalo Teachers’ Training in 1938.
She was a teacher in Wright County Schools for seven years when the love of her life, Wilfred A. Westphal, returned from overseas in World War II. They were united in marriage on March 31, 1945 at the church where Mary was confirmed. They were blessed with three sons – William, Scott, and John.
Minneapolis was their home until 1958 when they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota when Will became the first civilian fire chief at the air base. This was their home for almost 40 years.
Mary loved being involved there with her church. She taught Sunday school and Bible school for 25 years, served on the church council and church women’s board, and was secretary of Church Women United. She delivered home meals for 17 years and served on the Valley Memorial Homes board.
Being involved with her family’s activities was dearly cherished by her. Mary and Will enjoyed traveling, golfing, square dancing, biking, and walking. In 1997, after they recovered from the flood, they moved to Baxter, Minnesota to be near family. It was sad to leave Grand Forks, but they came to love living here. Will and Mary celebrated 71 years of beautiful married life in March of 2016.
Mary was born on November 16, 1919 in Howard Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of William O. and Blanche (Varner) Berg. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hermon Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Annandale. Mary graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1937 and Buffalo Teachers’ Training in 1938.
She was a teacher in Wright County Schools for seven years when the love of her life, Wilfred A. Westphal, returned from overseas in World War II. They were united in marriage on March 31, 1945 at the church where Mary was confirmed. They were blessed with three sons – William, Scott, and John.
Minneapolis was their home until 1958 when they moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota when Will became the first civilian fire chief at the air base. This was their home for almost 40 years.
Mary loved being involved there with her church. She taught Sunday school and Bible school for 25 years, served on the church council and church women’s board, and was secretary of Church Women United. She delivered home meals for 17 years and served on the Valley Memorial Homes board.
Being involved with her family’s activities was dearly cherished by her. Mary and Will enjoyed traveling, golfing, square dancing, biking, and walking. In 1997, after they recovered from the flood, they moved to Baxter, Minnesota to be near family. It was sad to leave Grand Forks, but they came to love living here. Will and Mary celebrated 71 years of beautiful married life in March of 2016.
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