Mary Ann Louise (Hagford) Wastweet recently passed away. Mary was born on May 5, 1934 to Olaf and Edith Mabel (Johnson) Hagford in Minneapolis, MN. 
In the true spirit of this woman, this narrative should be sung instead of read! Nevertheless…
Mary Ann was raised in Northeast Minneapolis the third of five children. She attended Edison High School. Some of her most shared memories included Youth Group at Gustavus Adolphus in NE Minneapolis, family picnics along the river in Anoka, Big Lake, and more. Special times at Grandparents homes in Moose Lake and Forest Lake. Music was always a part of her life with her Dad playing the violin. She and her sister Alice had the opportunity to sing with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra at Northrop Auditorium while in High School – a choir of about 1000 sang Messiah! Hallelujah Chorus. She and Alice were also 2 of 12 youth selected to participate at the MacPhail School of Music in the choir educating elementary teachers. One of her favorite memories; Mary Ann sang in a large choir at the Billy Graham rally in Minneapolis in his early years. She shared her love of music in so many ways throughout her life – whether singing around the house, for church, leading Ladies Aide, Sunday School or Luther League, and with her dear friend, Lily Motteberg and her Ukulele.
After graduating high school, Mary Ann went on to attend Nursing School at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis where she met many lifelong friends. She met her husband Vince through a nursing friend writing to a man serving alongside Vince in the Korean War. Mary Ann continued to write to Vince during his time there. They were married on September 7, 1957 at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Northeast Minneapolis.
The couple built their home in Coon Rapids, MN in 1958. They had 4 kids while living there; Katherine, Terry, Russell and Todd. The young family moved to the Wastweet family farm near Gary in February 1964, where they had 4 additional children; Sheryl, Cynthia, Ann and Julie.
Mary Ann worked as an RN at the Mahnomen hospital for a few years until the demands of farming and raising their family required (and lovingly decided) Mary Ann be home. From that time, Mary Ann was very involved in community work. Mary Ann did “Community Nursing” before it was the trend! She was called in to help with car accidents, the Red Cross following the Gary tornado, blood pressure clinics, other events and needs of neighbors over the years, not to mention the needs of 8 kids! She put her nursing knowledge to good use in the community.
Mary Ann was very engaged at Sundal Lutheran Church in Rural Fertile, MN. There she led the Sunday School program, and taught children; and of course sang! She was active in the Ladies Aid, her Circle, Vacation Bible School, the annual Norwegian Meatball Supper, Quilting, and so many other things at church.
She was also active in the Gary American Legion Auxillary, and served as their President for a number of years. Mary Ann enjoyed organizing programs and always went above and beyond to make an event special and meaningful for others.
By far, the most important aspect of Mary Ann’s life was her faith. Her cup ran over with blessing, and it naturally touched all she came in contact with. She lived in such a way that others knew she genuinely cared for them. “God loves you, and so do I.” Her favorite book in the Bible was Philippians as it was full of JOY.
In 1987 two families from across the world merged at the Wastweet Farm and the family grew by three more beautiful Brazilian daughters: Viviana, Stefania and Melissa. Vince and Mary Ann were able to travel to Brazil in 1998 to visit them and their parents. They also traveled around the country in their retirement years visiting cherished friends and family.
Mary Ann loved to gather people together to play games –Shanghai Rummy, and Yahtzee to name a few; or you could often find her coloring, working a puzzle or sudoku.
Mary Ann’s pride and joy are her 15 grand kids: Chris, Tom, Erik, Cassie, Kayla, Cami, Andrew, Kelsey, Brittany, Shelby, Jane, Claire, Alex, Jake, Josh; as well as 8 great grandchildren.
Mary Ann and Vincent moved from the farm to Fargo in 2008 where she lived in the Edgewood Village until her final months. She received excellent care her last month at Bethany Retirement Center in South Fargo where she was surrounded by family and music as she took Jesus’ hand to go on to her long-awaited home in Glory on March 7, 2024.
Survived by sons; Terry (Carol), Fargo, ND; Russell, Fargo, ND; Todd, Rock Hill, SC; son-in-law Peter Urseth, Sauk Center, MN; daughters Sherry Wastweet, Fargo, ND; Cindy (Todd) Kiester, Harpers Ferry, IA; Ann (Todd) Kukowski, Aitkin, MN; and Julie (Paul) Wilson, Grand Marais, MN; 3 Brazilian daughters; Viviana, Stefania, and Melissa Kano; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; sister, Dolly Mae Nelson, Roseville, MN, and brother, David (Carolyn) Hagford, Edina, MN; and many in-laws, and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent Wastweet, her parents, Olaf and Edith Mabel (Johnson) Hagford, daughter Katherine Urseth; siblings Donald (Grace) Hagford and Alice (Joe) Loudenslager, brother in law Milton Nelson and so many other loved ones.
“This is the night that the Lord has made. Let us rest in His peace and in His love.” (Mary Ann’s translation for evening – Psalm 118:24)
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Sundal Lutheran Church, Rural Gary, MN.
Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, March 15, 2024 at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN, with a prayer service to begin at 6:30 PM. Visitation will continue one hour before the service on Saturday.
Interment: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home of Fertile, Minnesota
