Mary A. Hareldson, age 85, of Canton, Minn., died Friday, August 10, 2018, at the Harmony Care Center in Harmony, Minn.
Mary was born September 20, 1932, in Preston, Minn., to Daniel and Ida (Schaefer) Wilbright. After graduating from the Preston High School, she moved to Rochester and was a nurse’s aide at the Colonial Hospital. In 1951, Mary joined the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) and served at the Army Finance Center in Ft. Benjamin Harrison located in Indianapolis Ind. She later married Herbert Hareldson and they celebrated 50 years together, until his passing in 2002. They farmed for many years and moved to Canton in 1975. Mary then worked for the Fillmore County Nursing Service for 12 years as a home health aide. She belonged to the Henrytown Lutheran Church, Mary Circle, Mabel VFW Auxiliary, and the Canton Lunch Bunch. She enjoyed fishing, baking, and was known as the “doughnut lady.”
Mary is survived by a son, Curt of Preston; a sister, Carol Williams of Fairmont, Minn.; three granddaughters: Katie (Nick) Kaiser of Minnetonka, Faith (Joel) Krogstad of St. Paul, and Angela (Will Meyer) Hareldson of Rochester; great-grandchildren Sula and Espen Krogstad and Miles Kaiser, daughter-in-law Tonia Hareldson of Chatfield, “second daughter” Candace and Dan McElroy and family of Rochester, a “second family,” Les and Mary Myhre family of Mabel; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a son, Duane; two daughters, Debbie and Gail; and brother Dick Wilbright.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 15, 2018, at the Henrytown Lutheran Church in rural Canton, with Reverend Dean Safe officiating. Burial will be in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston with military rites by the American Legion. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials are preferred to the Henrytown Lutheran Church. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.