Mary Smith

Mary Josephine (Burch) Smith

Age 80, of Stillwater

Mary Josephine Smith died November 6, 2008 after living for the past several years with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Mary was born on September 26, 1928 in St. Paul. Her family moved to Elgin, MN in 1935, and then back to St. Paul in 1944. She graduated from Harding High School in 1946. She attended Hamline University and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1950. She later attended Columbia Teachers College in New York, NY. She taught high school English and Social Studies at Evansville and Leroy, MN. At various times in the 1950s her other jobs included managing the post office at Macalester College in St. Paul, cleaning cabins in Glacier National Park, processing claims for Blue Cross Insurance in Oakland, CA and doing social work in Redwood Falls, MN. In 1957 she married George Charles Smith of Stillwater. They raised four children on their farm north of Stillwater. In the 1980s and 1990s, she worked at Washington Elementary and Stillwater Junior High schools, Farm Bureau Insurance, and Herberger's Department Store. Mary was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church and the Town and Country Homemakers club for over 50 years. She was also active in PEO, the Washington County Fair, adult literacy tutoring, Meals on Wheels, Second Harvest, and other community services. She was preceded in death by her parents Clara and Lloyd Burch Sr., sister Julia Burch, and husband George. She is survived by her children and their families: Matthew Smith and Anne Gardner of Stillwater, MN; Charles and Shanna Smith of Dickinson, ND; Rebecca and Gregory Phelan of St. Louis Park, MN; and Joseph Smith and Kelly Bond of Tuscaloosa, AL. In addition, she is survived by nine grandchildren: Patrick, Alissa, Samuel and Jacob Smith, Conrad and William Phelan, Isaac and Ingrid Smith, and Cole Smith. She is also survived by her brother Lloyd (MaryAnn) Burch of Center City, MN, sisters- and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. Visitation Wednesday, November 12 from 5-8 pm at BRADSHAW, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater, MN and one hour prior to service at the church. A Celebration of Mary's Life will be held at 11AM on Thursday, November 13 at CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 150 5th St, Marine St Croix, MN. Inurnment Oakland Cemetery.

Memorials in lieu of flowers preferred to Christ Lutheran Church or Lakeview Hospice.

Bradshaw

2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater

651-439-5511