MaryLou Jeanne (Kennedy) Tucker, 93, of Euclid, MN, passed away in Edgewood Vista, East Grand Forks, MN, Monday evening, April 29, 2024, with members of her loving family at her side.
MaryLou was born on the Fisher, MN farm of her parents, Lewis Alexander and Mary Magdalen (Menke) Kennedy. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and educated in country schools and the Euclid Elementary School through the 8 th grade. MaryLou graduated from the St. Joseph’s Academy in Crookston, MN with the Class of 1948 and went on to attend Union Commercial College in Grand Forks, ND where she earned an Associate degree in Business. On November 28, 1953 MaryLou was united in marriage to the love of her life, Harold “Yon” Matthew Tucker. In the coming years their union would be blessed by the births of Lorri, Terry, Todd, Jodi, Dean, and Darren whom they raised in a loving home. In 1972 MaryLou and Yon moved to a new home they built on their farm. Very sadly, Yon died on April 9, 1976.
In addition to being a very loving wife, mother, and homemaker MaryLou worked outside her home throughout her life. Before marriage she was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Grand Forks, and after her marriage was the bookkeeper for Earl L. Enright Oil Company of East Grand Forks. Later for many years she worked in the office of M.J. McGough Construction Company, the builders of St. Michael’s Hospital and the Sage Project at the GF Air Force Base. She closed out her working career as a rural mail carrier for 15 years with the Euclid Post Office. For MaryLou retirement hardly meant settling into a rocking chair and taking it easy. Her new found passion began in 1992 as a volunteer driver for RSVP of the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
Over the next 11 years she totaled 10,561 hours of volunteer time. In 2003 RSVP combined with Rural Transportation to form the Rural Transportation Collaborative. From then until her retirement in 2019 she continued to drive folks to their medical and other various appointments, be they in Crookston, Grand Forks, Fargo, or the many trips she made to the Twin Cities and Mayo at Rochester. Accurate record keeping put her travels during those 16 years at 276,099 miles, the equivalent of going around the world at the equator 11 times.
MaryLou truly loved every hour spent and every mile covered knowing how much she was needed. She also treasured the countless friendships formed as she became a confidant and good listener for those she brought safely to their appointments and home again.
Mary Lou was a devout parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church while serving as past president and treasurer of the Altar Society, lector, cantor, and Eucharistic Minister. She was also a longtime member of the Euclid American Legion Auxiliary and RSVP. For many years she was a regular donor of her B-negative blood at the local blood bank with totals exceeding 20 gallons.
There were hard times following Yon’s passing but in MaryLou’s own words, “I did my best to be a good Mom and Grandma, left with the task of being both parents”. Evidenced by the great love and devotion her family felt for her she did just that.
MaryLou leaves her 6 children and their spouses: Lorri Tucker-Wenger and Jim Wenger of Crookston; Terry and June Tucker of East Grand Forks, MN, Todd Tucker of Brainerd, MN, Jodi Field of Coon Rapids, MN, Dean and Marla Tucker of Glencoe, MN, and Darren and Darla Tucker of Glyndon, MN; 8 grandchildren: Christopher Field, Paige Tucker, David Field, Jonathan Tucker, Hailey (Jack) Banask, Hannah Tucker, Logan Tucker, and Gabbee Tucker; 3 great-grandchildren: Ashton Field, Diego Field, and Evelyn Banask; 6 step-grandchildren: Heidi (Jacob) Nottestad, Alicia (Cody) Perkerewicz, Natalie (Sam) Mertens, Lisa Wenger, Paul Wenger, and Willy Wenger; 14 step great-grandchildren: Gracie, Luke, and Chance Nottestad, Taten, Lilly, Lila, Lexi, and Livy Perkerewicz, Theo, Ford, and Naas Mertens, Charlotte Wenger, and Brennen and Braelynn Wenger; a brother-in-law, Ralph Tucker of Grafton, ND; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
In addition to Yon, her beloved husband and best friend for over 22 years, Mary Lou is preceded in death by 2 infant sons on October 11, 1955 and February 29, 1964; a grandson, Tucker Scott Field; her parents, Lewis and Mary Kennedy; all of her siblings: Marie (Harold) Kollasch, Hazel (Bert) Doyea, Ronald “Sonny” (Stella) Kennedy, Lorraine (Raymond) Doyea, Bernice (Elmer) Doyea, and infant brother, Carl; and from Yon’s family, her parents-in-law, Ben and Elaine Tucker and Cora Tucker; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Luella (Willis) Campen, Marion (Clifford) Yates, Leo Tucker and his wives Glady and Eileen, and Carol Tucker. Blessed be the memory of MaryLou Jeanne Tucker.
Mass of Christian Burial honoring the life of MaryLou Jeanne Tucker will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday May 13, 2024, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Euclid, MN, with The Rev. Xavier Ilango, presiding. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. There will also be a visitation at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Sunday, May 12th, from 5-7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.
Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Crookston. All services will be livestreamed by going to MaryLou’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view.
