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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.