Mary Alice Halverson

Mary Alice Halverson, 92 of Onalaska, WI, died peacefully in her sleep on September 20, 2016 at the Onalaska Care Center. She was born January 9, 1924 in Winona, MN to Frank G. Rowell & Olive A. (Hammond) Rowell. She was the youngest of six children and the only girl.

Mary was united in marriage with John G. Halverson July 17, 1942 at the West Avenue Methodist Church in La Crosse; where the couple first met. In later years they were active members of Asbury United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church.

As a young girl she attended Phelps School in Winona and after the family moved to La Crosse, she attended grades 10-12 and graduated from Central High School. She was a member of the Honor Society, Women’s Chorus and Debate Club. Her most memorable moment in High School was getting kicked out of study hall once for hitting a boy over the head with her Algebra book. Comment from the teacher was “next time hit him harder”.

For many years she was a stay at home mother raising seven children, including one daughter who was stricken with Polio. The children included three daughters, Nancy Lee, Mary Lynn, and Sharol; and four sons, David, Scott, Dennis Eric and Donald.

When the youngest (the twins) entered kindergarten, she attended La Crosse State University, where she graduated with honors and earned both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Elementary Education with minors in music and geography. She taught grade 5/6 Music in Melrose-Mindoro School District, Grade 6 in Onalaska School District and Grade 6 at Summit School in La Crosse. In 1969 the family moved to Coon Rapids, MN where she taught Grade 5 in the Anoka-Hennepin School District until retiring from teaching in 1984.

Mary loved singing and sang in her church choirs starting at the age of six. She was also in the La Crosse Community Choir, University Women Choir, was guest soloist in churches in the La Crosse area and was director for the Jr. Choir in her church. She also belonged to the church Circle and WSCS.

Among her many amazing talents was sewing, crocheting, knitting and quilting. She created costumes for the La Crosse Community Theater, was a charter member of Ozark Country Quilters in Cassville, MO and was also a senior volunteer, “tutoring” through the Literacy Council of the Ozarks.

She and her husband were both camp counselors at Pine Lake Methodist Church Camp and she was a parent volunteer with Job’s Daughters. The family attended summer church camp, and camped at Devil’s Lake and in Northern Wisconsin. The family also owned and operated a Water Bike business on Lake Tomah.

As empty nesters the couple traveled and camped extensively throughout the United States and the world. Highlights were trips into Canada, down the St. Lawrence Seaway, thru eastern states to Prince Edwards Island, Alaska Inland Waterway to Baniff, and to Hawaii. While two of her sons were in the military stationed overseas, she and her husband visited them in London, Paris & Germany. A third son lived in Wangelstadt & West Berlin in Germany and Malaga, Spain for most of 40 years; resulting in trips to see their grandsons in both countries.

After retiring from teaching and being tired of the snowy MN/WI winters, the couple relocated to Emerald Beach on Table Rock Lake near Branson, MO. In 1994 they moved to Republic, MO (just 20 miles from Springfield). Then in 1996 they found the retirement community called The Ozark Methodist Manor in Marionville, MO.

While living at the Manor she served on committees, worked in the gift shop, was secretary of the Manor board and led music for Sunday worship in the manor nursing home. She cared for her husband in their home during his early stages of Alzheimer’s. Later she worked on quilt squares for “John’s Quilt” during her daily visits to see him after he entered the nursing home at the Manor.

In 2007 Mary moved to the Heritage Hall Nursing home in Centralia, MO and in April 2008 relocated to the Onalaska Care Center, near her daughter.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 2002; daughters Nancy Lee Pierce and Mary Lynn Goblirsch; daughter-in law Trisha Halverson; son-in laws Denis Goblirsch, Charley Pierce and Ellwood “Nick” Diehl; her parents; and her five brothers, Glenn, Charles, Fredric, George and Robert Rowell.

She is survived by one daughter, Sharol (Larry) Haagenson of Dakota, MN; and four sons, David of Malaga, Spain; Scott (Linda) of Mexico, MO; Dennis Eric (Kathy) of Kent, OH; and Donald (Victoria) of St. Paul, MN. 13 grandchildren, Chuck Heiam of La Crosse, WI; Laura (Howard) Cozart of Lake Lafayette, MO; Mark (Wendy Koeller) Hammes of Rochester, MN; Nick (Gretchen Lindahl) Hammes of Chaseburg, WI; Johnny Beringer of Berlin, Germany; Jaime Halverson-Sanz of Malaga, Spain; Lee (Debby) Halverson of Hillsboro, OR; Tami (Eric) Presley of Ballwin, MO; Kristy (James) Daniel of San Marcos, TX; Josef Halverson of Minneapolis, MN; Brynn (Andy ) Halverson of St. Paul, MN; Brian Halverson of San Antonio, TX; and Sarah (Ian) Wright of Philadelphia, PA. One step-grandson, Brad (Liza) Haagenson of Lewiston, MN and one step-granddaughter, Sarah Pulis of Mexico, MO. She is further survived by her brother-in-law Rudy (Joyce) Halverson of North Highlands, CA; 16 great grandchildren; 4 step-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

We would like to say a special thank you to all of the caring staff at the Onalaska Care Center where she was a resident for over eight years.

Memorials may be directed to the La Crosse Public Education Foundation or a memorial of your choice.
A family burial service will be held graveside at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Winona, MN the afternoon of Saturday Sept 24th.