Mary Behr

Funeral Services for Mary E. Behr of Albert Lea, formerly of Conger, will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Conger, MN. The Reverend Wendy Anderson will officiate. Interment will be in Conger Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church. Mary died on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at St. John's Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. She was 85. Mary Elizabeth was born June 26, 1929, in Fairmont, Minnesota the daughter of Charles and Kathryn (O'Connor) Newville. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1947, and attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. She married Kenneth D. Behr on February 8, 1950 in Fairmont, on her grandparents 51st Anniversary. Mary worked many places, but the job she enjoyed the most was the 25 years she spent at Albert Lea Schools, where she worked in the nurse's office and had students work on the phones with her.
Mary gave many volunteer hours to her church and community. She had served as president of the Ladies Aid at her church and planned the annual turkey supper for many years. She also helped and served on a community committee for the village of Conger.
Mary loved spending time knitting, sewing quilts, and doing needle point. She loved to read and could not start her day without reading her paper cover to cover. She loved spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary loved to go out to eat and went whenever she got the chance. Mary told many stories of her growing up years, of the big gardens, canning food, life thru WWII, the German prisoners going by her home, her grandparents, her school years, and her family life at home. Mary is survived by her children: daughters, Patty (Larry) Beck of Alden, Barb Sorensen of Albert Lea, Chris Thompson of Kensett, IA, and son Mark (Janelle) Behr of Conger; grandchildren: Mitchell (Pam) Jacobs, of Mankato, Michael (Dawn) Jacobs of Waseca, Melissa (Ed) Wencl of Ellendale, Jennifer (Brandon) Farris of Conger, Kari Sorensen of Coon Rapids, Zeke Thompson (special friend Jessica Iverson) of Northwood, IA, Matt (Ashley) Thompson of Northwood, IA, Luke (Sarah) Thompson of Manly, IA, Katie (Ryan) Maier of Belle Plaine, Krystal Behr (special friend Brian Schmidt) of Arden Hills, Kim(Dustin) Lorentzen of Alden, Kara Behr of Rochester; nineteen great grandchildren; sister, Virginia (David) Sukalski of Fairmont; brothers: Bill Newville(special friend Tara Lexow) of Spicer, Jack (Rosalie) Newville of Welcome, Mike (Janice) Newville of Fairmont, and Tom (Peggy) Newville of Deer River; sisters-in law: Viola Johnson of Albert Lea, Sue Newville of Mankato, and very special friend (just like a sister) Louise Ashleson of Albert Lea, and several nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, her parents, sons-in-law: Andrew Sorensen and Steve Thompson; grandson, Shawn Thompson, in-laws: Christ and Tina Behr; brothers: Charles, Robert and Joseph Newville, sister Margaret Katherine Newville, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Doris Newville, Orville Behr, LeRoy and Lorraine Behr, Arthur Johnson, Leona Behr and Lois and Ray Christianson. Memorials suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Conger Cemetery.