Mary Bohnenblust
Jan. 30, 1942-Aug. 8, 2022
Mary Bohnenblust died
on August 8, 2022.
Mary Elizabeth Stern
was born January 30,
1942, to E.C. (Stub) and
Anita Stewart Stern. Mary
was the eldest of 3 chil-
dren in a musical family.
Her father played jazz
trumpet and her mother
was a singer. Both were
professionals who re-
turned to ND to raise their
family. They lived in
Sykeston and Underwood,
ND. Mary’s mother died
in 1955 and Mary took
over many responsibilities
for the family. They later
moved to Garrison where
Mary graduated from high
school in 1959.
Mary was very creative,
a trait she inherited from
her mother, and she loved
singing and theater arts.
She began singing in choir
in the 7th grade. After gra-
duation she spent time in
Colorado and Texas
where she performed with
musical troupes at Medi-
cal Centers. She later
moved to Fargo to attend
NDSU, graduating in 1967
with a degree in Theater
Arts. She met Jay Bohnen-
blust after he returned
from the Air Force, and
they were married June
23, 1967. They later di-
vorced.
Mary used her artistic
talents for costume and
set design for many pro-
grams at Trollwood, with
local ballet productions
(her favorite was The Nut-
cracker) and puppet
shows. She did counted
cross stitch and needle-
point, including work on
the kneelers at her
church. She continued
singing in the church
choir until recent years
when her health made it
hard for her to stand and
perform.
Mary was a member of
First Presbyterian Church,
FM area Music Club, and
FM Opera. She served at
Bethel Guardian for Job’s
Daughters while her
daughters were active,
carrying on her tradition
in Rainbow.
She is survived by her
daughters Elizabeth (Scott
Nelson) and Susan (Steve
Luce); 5 grandchildren,
Elsbeth, David, Shae,
Rowan and Jacob; brother
David (Virginia) Stern;
and sisters Jane Stern
Hodges, Barbara (Dave)
Lee, and Sue (Terry)
Fugere; sister-in-law Deb-
bie Burgum; and great-
aunt Lilas Stewart
Schmidt; as well as many
nieces and nephews. She
was preceded in death by
her parents; stepmother,
Elaine Berry Stern; and
brother K. C. Burgum.
A visitation will be held
at 1 pm with a memorial
service at 2 pm on Tues-
day, August 16, 2022, at
First Presbyterian Church,
Fargo. Burial will follow
at Sunset Memorial Gar-
dens.
In lieu of flowers, dona-
tions may be made to the
FM Opera in Mary’s
name.
Arrangements entrusted
to the care of Boulger
Funeral Home and Cele-
bration of Life Center, Far-
go. To sign the online
guestbook, and view
Mary’s service, please
visit www.boulger
funeralhome.com.