Obituary of Mary Adams
A Celebration of Life for Mary Adams will be held Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 1:00pm at the First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Mary Adams Memorial Fund at First Lutheran Church, 1525 Three Cross Road, Milford, 51351. A memorial in Mary’s honor will be established to fund an annual bible camp scholarship at Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp.
Mary Lou Adams, 77, of Arnolds Park passed from this life on January 8, 2021, after a long battle with Parkinson’s. It took her body but never touched her love of her dear family, friends, or faith.
Mary was born on May 20, 1943, to Dagne and Frieda Tveidt, and was raised on a dairy farm in Ceylon, Minnesota with her sister Caroline and brother David. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College and Mankato State, graduating in 1965. She taught third grade in Jackson, Minnesota, where she met John in 1965. They married December 26, 1966, and moved to Flandreau, South Dakota, and then to Milford in 1967. She taught third grade in Flandreau and Spirit Lake before starting her family.
In Milford they happily welcomed three children - Heather (1969), John (1971), and Julie (1972). Mary loved nothing more than being a mom, and she never missed an athletic event or school function. She loved her kids’ friends as her own. Above all else she was a wonderful, fun, patient, loving mother.
Mary and John were married 54 years and 14 days. They jointly cherished their family, and together they also started and grew The Lakes News Shopper where Mary performed many roles over the years until her retirement in 2010. If you are reading this she likely took your garage sale ad while also making sure to ask after your family and perhaps offer a bit of advice.
Mary’s greatest joy in retirement was her six grandchildren, she was an amazing and engaged grandma who loved celebrating their birthdays, sports victories, and other milestones. She enjoyed moving to Lake Minnewashta in 2000 and spent many afternoons happily watching her grandkids and others swim or fish off the dock. She loved a good game of cards, ice cream, Christmas, sports of all kinds (watching them, not actually sweating herself), baking, snow days, and music. She asked great questions and was a wonderful listener. Mary had a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh, which together with her generous spirit could light up a room.
Mary Lou cherished her brother David and sister Caroline and their families, they were never far from her mind. She also loved spending time with her cousins over the years. Her family and also her faith were the cornerstones of her life. She served on the church council and was very active in church groups at First Lutheran.
Mary’s true gift was connecting with people, and she loved her friends and community so deeply. Whether you were a Young Homemaker, a neighbor, a member of her bible study or book club, one of the gals from the office, a friend from First Lutheran, or someone who shared a bleacher with her - you know how much her heart beat for her friendships, and perhaps a good nugget of gossip.
Preceding her in death were her parents Dagne and Frieda Tveidt and sister-in-law Irene Tveidt. Left to cherish her warm and wonderful memory: her husband John; daughter Heather and her husband Brad Dotson of Des Moines; son John and his wife Michelle of Arnolds Park; and daughter Julie of Des Moines; grandchildren Eli, Olivia, and Isaac Dotson; Shaelyn and Tyler Adams; and Mya Adams-Parks; brother David Tveidt; sister Caroline and her husband Richard Simmering; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members; and countless friends.