March 4, 1925 - March 19, 2018

Mary Eva Spaulding passed away peacefully on March 19, 2018.  Mary was born at home in Evergreen Township in Washburn County on March 4, 1925 to Glenn and Olive (Brockway) Keller.  After eight years of education in a one-room country school house, she transferred to Spooner High School, where she graduated in 1943.  After high school, Mary attended St. Paul Bible College for one year.  Mary then moved back to Spooner and married the love of her life, Oliver L. Spaulding, on May 11, 1944 in a ceremony held at the Methodist parsonage in Pine City, MN.  After their marriage, they moved to their farm in Burnett County where, for the next 62 years, they worked together raising five children and farming the land.  Other than working as a cook at the Shell Lake Hospital for 7 years, Mary dedicated her life to working alongside her husband as faithful, loving wife and being a beautiful, gracious role model to her children.  After her husband’s death in 2007, Mary continued to live on the family farm with her oldest daughter, Marilyn Maher.

Mary was an active member of the Spooner Wesleyan Church where she spent many years serving as Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher, helping with the youth, and diligently working with the Wesleyan Women’s group.  She loved raising a family.  In her own words, she thoroughly enjoyed “cooking, baking, and everything connected with raising a family.”  Mary enjoyed picking and preserving all kinds of berries as well as growing large vegetable gardens.  Being an excellent cook and blessed with the gift of hospitality, she delighted in entertaining family and friends alike where they enjoyed her delicious homemade pies and bread, raised donuts, and cinnamon rolls.   Mary crocheted and knitted many beautiful afghans and lovely doilies—giving them to friends and family.  Mary enjoyed traveling and camping with her late husband.  Her role as a dedicated, loving wife and a caring, wonderful Mother is summed up in these words:

“Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.  She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all’. . .a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”  Proverbs 31:25-30

Mary is survived by: her five children:  one son, Dale (Roxie) Spaulding of Shell Lake; four daughters, Marilyn Maher of Spooner, Irene (Alan) Tripp of Hillsboro, Linda (Don) Lundstrom of Ellsworth, and Mary Kay Johnson (Warren) of Spooner; 12 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Shirley Young, Dorothy Taylor, and Mary (Meredith) Bailie; brothers, Ben Keller, Glenn (Phyllis) Keller, Paul (Ginger) Keller and many nieces and nephews.  Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Oliver; son-in-law John Maher; siblings, Gladys Kidder, June Carlton, Harold Keller, and Helen Currie; sisters-in-law, Clara Keller and Bev Keller, brothers-in-law, David Kidder, Donald Carlton and Tom Taylor.

Visitation will be held at the Spooner Wesleyan Church on Friday, March 23, from 4 pm until 8 pm and for one hour prior to the services at the church.  Mary’s funeral service will be held at the Spooner Wesleyan Church on Saturday March 24 at 11 am with Pastor Ron Gormong officiating.  Interment will be at the Spooner Cemetery immediately following the funeral. 

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:44 pm CST