Mary Wood

Minot

Mary Magdalen Streifel Wood, a cherished mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully at home on Friday February 23, 2024, after a brave fight against breast cancer.

Mary was born on October 16, 1926, to Paul and Margaret (Weber) Streifel in Karlsruhe, ND. She graduated class salutatorian from Karlsruhe High School in 1944. At age 17 she went to work for the Great Northern Railroad and was among the first female agent telegraphers in the country. She would always tell you that she did the same work as the men, only better. She had the somber task of delivering telegrams to the families of soldiers killed in action during WWII, one being to her own sister, Jean.

While working for the railroad she met her husband, Edward (Ed) Wood, who was also an agent telegrapher for the Great Northern and they were married in September 1948. They lived in Des Lacs and Wahpeton, ND, and Breckenridge, MN before moving to Minot in 1961. During the early years they worked at depots in different towns and would communicate via telegraph using morse code, the original form of texting you could say. They continued practicing this years later at the kitchen table just to annoy their daughters.

She continued working for the railroad from 1943 to 1960 and later worked in a doctor’s office before retiring from White Drug in 1985.

Mary led an active social life and was a member of St. Monica’s Widows Group, National Association of Retired Railroad Employees, and the Order of Retired Telegraphers Minot Division. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, dancing, bowling, and playing pool, and spent countless hours volunteering, something she was most proud of. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and rarely missed a televised game.

She is survived by daughters, Rebecca Fielder and Barbara (Greg) Fantle; grandchildren, Christopher (Alicia) Fielder, Sarah, Lauren, and Maxwell Fantle; sister, Helen Degenstein; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed; sisters, Regina, Christine, Dorothy, Catherine, and Caroline; and brothers, Lawrence, and Romaine.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Thursday at 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Railroad Museum of Minot, P.O. Box 74, Minot, ND 58701.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the Thompson-Larson Funeral home website: www.thompsonlarson.com

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 6, 2024.