Mary Tholen

1923 - 2013

Mary Tholen, 90

Little Falls

Sept. 17, 1923 - Dec. 3, 2013

Mary Tholen, age 90, of Little Falls, died Tuesday, December 3rd at Harmony House in Pierz.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 7th, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls. Visitation will be at Shelley Funeral Chapel, Little Falls from 4-8 p.m., Friday, December 6th and 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 7th prior to service.

Mary passed away peacefully on December 3 at Harmony House of Pierz. She is survived by her children: daughter Mary Jo (Neil) Horsager of Fargo, ND; daughter Julie Tholen of Saint Paul; and son John Peter (Patty) Tholen of Rice, MN. Her grandchildren: Katie (Horsager) and Chase Ferris; Christopher Horsager; Karli Kinsella and Trent Kinsella. Her sister Anna Helms of Fargo, ND and her many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Mary was born on September 17, 1923 to John P. and Mary Mueller of Buckman, MN. She was one of eleven children. She was baptized at St. Michael's Catholic Church. She grew up on the family farm east of Buckman. She graduated from St. Francis High School in Little Falls in 1941. She set her sights on being a stewardess, but at the time you needed a nursing degree, so Mary did her training at St Francis, Breckenridge, MN. Upon receiving her R.N., she enlisted in the Army Nurses Corp. and there she served for two years before being discharged when WWII ended. Mary returned to Little Falls and began her nursing career at St. Gabriel's Hospital, where she would remain a fixture until her early 60's. She was a patient advocate before there was a name for it; trained in on the first intensive care unit established at the hospital, and was literally the first call for consult for many friends, neighbors, and relatives. She was a gifted athlete in her youth, excelling in basketball and softball. Her athletic skills stood her in good stead later on in life as she was called to be umpire at countless grade school ball games thanks to her three children, who never hesitated to say "My Mom can do it!!!" Mary was a golfer and always said that if you could golf, play tennis and cards, you would never be bored! She played cards all her adult life, a 50-year member of a 500 card club and then learning bridge in her 60's at the Little Falls Senior Center. She loved antiques, and with her dear friends Florence Kapsner and Aggie Trafas in tow, spent a good portion of her time standing at auction sales. Socializing with her friends and family either in person or on the phone gave her great happiness.

Her children and her grandchildren were her primary joys. Mary had a huge heart and all children were her passion. Whether making faces at little ones in church, opening her home to her kids' friends when they had troubles at home, or just listening to young people, Mary was an extraordinarily mothering person, and many a young lives were made better because she was present for them.

Mary's infectious laughter, can-do attitude, compassionate nature and mischievous spirit won her many friends, and strangers were truly friends she had yet to meet. She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her.

Mary was preceded in death, by her husband of 59 years, John V. Tholen; her siblings: Roman Mueller, John Mueller, Joseph Mueller; Hildie Peterson, Bertie Solinger, Florence Mueller, Jolie Klein, infant sisters Rosalie and Mary; infant grandson Neil Horsager.