Mary (O'Connor) Orr, 96
Mary (O'Connor) Orr, 96, “went to be with her Lord” on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home.
She was born on April 15, 1914, in Fergus Falls, Minn., to Thomas and Mary (Teberg) O'Connor, the oldest of four girls.
She moved with her parents and one sister when she was about 4 years old to Litchville, N.D., a small farming community. This move was in the middle of winter and they traveled by horse and sleigh; they were stranded in a snowstorm and taken into a small home where others had already taken refuge.
Upon arriving in Litchville and after getting settled, her father set up a machinery repair service, which he continued for many years. He was also instrumental in bringing electricity to the small town.
Mary talked about going to barn dances and even one where Lawrence Welk was in the band. She was active in school, played basketball in high school, and was active in the Catholic Church.
At the end of the Depression years, Mary and Alfred Olsen were married. Jobs were scarce. Hearing that there were jobs in Libby, they moved with their two girls. This was in 1937. The couple bought a home in Libby in a welcoming neighborhood where the children could have friends.
Mary was a homemaker. Her first words for those entering her home were, “Would you like a cup of coffee?” No person who entered the home ever left without something to eat or drink. Her grandchildren called her “a good cooker.”
After 15 years of marriage, Mary and Alfred were divorced.
Mary remarried some years later to Willard Orr of Libby. Willard and Mary were married 53 years at the time of his passing.
Mary worked in the laundry business, running the Fashion Cleaners for some years. She also remained a homemaker, sewing, making quilts and rugs, cross-stitching on pillow tops, and crocheting sweaters, afghans and dishrags. When she wasn't doing handwork, she was reading.
Willard and Mary built a log home in Libby and also a log cabin in the Silver Butte area, where they spent time relaxing and fishing.
She also worked preparing Christmas trees to send to the cities in the area so everyone could enjoy Christmas. This was in the early years at the Hofert yard near the train depot. All work was done by hand, and it smelled like freshly cut fir trees.
Mary loved her Lord and was anxious to join Him in heaven. She was a faithful reader of her Bible and the Lutheran “Portals of Prayer.” She made many friends in Trinity Church and elsewhere, and spoke of them often with love.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Willard; two sisters, Viola Newman and Eleanor Eichorn; niece, Corrine Newman; son-in-law, Gary Hanson; granddaughter, Patricia Rusk; and great-granddaughter, Carrie Dofelmire.
She is survived by a sister, Marjorie Hansen, and nieces and nephews of North Dakota; two daughters, Patricia Madrid of Spokane, and Barbara Kizer and husband Ron of Kalispell; four grandchildren, Barry Dofelmire and wife Cynda of Libby, and Gary Hanson, Deborah Brockington and Judy Peiffer, all of Kalispell; 11 great-grandchildren, Richard, Mary, Andrea, David, Seth, Eli, Asiah, Nicole, Ashley, Philip and Matthias; and six great-great-grandchildren, Delilah, Charlie, Jane and Angelique, Hunter and Garrett.
The family would like to thank Immanuel Lutheran Home for the wonderful care she had there. The staff and aides were very kind during Mary's stay.
Memorial services for Mary will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Cutler officiating. Urn burial will be private by the family at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Mary's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Mary's guest book, offer condolences and share memories.