July 21, 2010

Mary Gunderson

Mary Gunderson, 91, of Watford City, N.D., died Saturday, July 10, 2010, at her Watford City residence. Friends may sign the on-line register book and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com
Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2010, at the Epiphany Catholic Church in Watford City. Fr. Dennis Schafer officiated, and interment took place in the Banks Churchyard Cemetery, northeast of Watford City. A Rosary and family service were held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Watford City.
Mary was born on June 12, 1919, the daughter of Charles H. and Louise (Breyer) McCabe. She was raised and educated in southeast Minnesota. As a young woman, Mary helped her sisters with their children. She later moved to LaCrosse, Wis., where she worked in a grocery store. While working at the grocery store, she met her future husband, Art Gunderson.
On Feb. 6, 1940, Mary was united in marriage to Art Gunderson. They moved to the family farm in McKenzie County, where they raised their family, ranched, farmed and gardened. After they both slowed down, they continued to live on the farm, gardening being their mainstay. They supplied vegetables to many Farmer’s Markets, family and friends. They later moved to the Horizons in Watford City in 2008. Art preceded Mary in death on Feb. 3, of this year, after 70 years of marriage. Mary continued to live at the Horizons.
Mary was a member of the Epiphany Catholic Church and the Altar Society, a 4-H leader, Homemaker’s Club and the Twin Valley Township Election Board, and was active in the Good Shepherd Nursing Home Bazaars.
Mary was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed rosemaling, needlework, canning, baking, and her flowers and vegetables. Mary won many horticulture awards for her flowers.
She is survived by two sons, Eugene (Gayle) Gunderson and Bruce (Patricia) Gunderson, and one daughter, Ardis (Robert) Pederson, all of Watford City; 15 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; one brother, John (Jerry) McCabe of Dakota, Minn.; four sister-in-laws: Eunice McCabe of Watford City, Lillian Quale of Minneapolis, Minn., Edna (Frantz) Nordstrom of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Myrtle Rud of Tacoma, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband; two brothers, Raymond and Charles, and three sisters, Lila, Rose and Margaret.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER