Mary Walaker

Mary Selina (Lund) Walaker, Fargo, ND passed away peacefully, at Farmstead Care in Moorhead MN, on Nov. 10, 2017. Mary was born in Twin Valley, MN on March 18, 1941 to Oscar and Margaret (Houkum) Lund. She grew up in Twin Valley and graduated from Twin Valley High school in 1959. After graduation Mary went to Moorhead State University and graduated with a degree in elementary education. In May of 2000, she received her master’s degree in elementary education from Minot State University. She began her teaching career in Pelican Rapids, MN. While living there she met her husband, Dennis Walaker. Dennis and Mary were married, May 26, 1966. They started their married life together by moving to Moorhead, MN. To be closer to Mary’s next teaching job they moved briefly to West Fargo, ND. Mary taught at South Elementary where her passion for education and the arts flourished. For 39 years Mary wrote school musicals, supervised science fairs, championed student learning, and developed lifelong friendships. Mary and Dennis lived only briefly in West Fargo when a near miss with a devastating flood convinced them to move to south Fargo, where they would welcome their first daughter Erin. In preparation for their second daughter, Shannon, they built their forever home, three blocks south. Throughout her entire life Mary was passionate about music, education, gardening and her family. She was active in the Concordia Marimba group “Viva Marimba” where she developed news friendships and shared her love for music. She was an active supporter of the FM Symphony and the arts community. She loved to take trips to view the area nurseries which gave her inspiration for her gardening. Her grandsons, Sam and Max, were her pride and joy. Whether shuttling them to activities, pitching baseballs in the backyard, or baking cookies, Mary’s love for them was evident. She was able to spend many hours with them in her retirement taking them on wonderful adventures and exposing them to many new experiences. Mary is survived by; her daughters Shannon Walaker, St. Petersburg, FL., Erin (Walaker) Hall (Thomas), her grandchildren Samuel Hall and Maxwell Hall, (Fargo, ND), her sister-in-law Renae (Walaker) Wenner (Scott) New Canaan, CT, her nephew Christopher (Whitney) Wenner their three children, Hudson, Cameron, and Carson, Atlanta, GA, her niece and goddaughter Kate (Jared) Carey Haddon Heights, NJ, their daughter, Taylor. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Dennis R. Walaker in 2014. We are grateful for the assistance provided by Hospice of the Red River Valley at the end of Mary’s life. Also, her family cannot thank the wonderful staff of Farmstead Care enough. They were there to laugh, hug, and care for her in her last year. A celebration of her life will be held at Boulger Funeral Home with visitation on Monday, November 13th, from 5 – 7 p.m. followed by a short prayer service. On Tuesday, November 14th at 10 a.m. her funeral will be held at Boulger Funeral Home followed by a burial service at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.