Mary Montgomery • 1927 - 2011

Mary Montgomery, 83, Minot, ND, died Friday, November 18, 2011, at ManorCare Health Services in Minot.

Mary Elizabeth Gagnon Montgomery was born December 19, 1927 in Bismarck to Joseph A. and Mary (Brosnahan) Gagnon.  Her family moved to Minot when she was two years old.
Mary attended St. Leo’s school, graduating as valedictorian in 1945. She worked for the Great Northern Railway until her marriage to Frank Montgomery on June 20, 1951.
Mary and Frank were blessed with six children.  Mary was an active participant in her children’s education and served in various capacities, including president, of the PTAs of Little Flower and Bishop Ryan schools.

Mary loved to play bridge and belonged to two bridge clubs and a couples’ bridge club with Frank.  She enjoyed hosting her afternoon bridge clubs and her evening couples’ bridge club. She played bridge until her eyesight began to fail.  Mary and Frank also hosted many dinners in their home for clients and employees of Frank’s business, Minot Insurance Agency.
Mary also loved to golf and play tennis. She and Frank were members of the Minot Country Club for many years.

Mary was actively involved in her church. She was a member of St. Leo’s church where she and Frank were married. She was a member of Little Flower church after her marriage.  She and Frank were charter members of St. John the Apostle church when it was formed in 1961.  Mary was a member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and served many roles, including president. 

Mary and Frank liked to travel, and took long trips with their family for many years. They also enjoyed the trips they took with friends. After Frank retired, they spent winters in Florida and Arizona where they played golf.

Mary and Frank moved to the Wellington Assisted Living Center in July 2005.  Mary moved to the Edgewood Vista Memory Care Unit in October 2011. Recently, she was residing at Manor Care where she was receiving physical therapy after a hospital stay.

Mary and Frank celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren in July at their daughter’s home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Mary is survived by her husband, Frank; and her children: Jim Montgomery and his wife, Kim, and their children, Shantel and Colin;  Peggy Montgomery and her husband, David Bice , and their children, Ethan, Nathaniel and Dylan; Becky Montgomery and her husband, Dave Haley, and their children, Chris and Nick; Tom Montgomery and his wife Bonnie and their children, Will and Jennifer (Paul Fisher and daughter Kathryn); Jeanne Boespflug and her husband, Paul, and their children, John (Sarah), Theresa and Sarah; and Julie Montgomery. She is also survived by step grandchildren, Joshua Bice and his family; Lanta Totten and her family, and Amanda Reed and her family. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Joseph, sisters, Peggy Cotter and Cathy Weeks.

Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment:  Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation:  Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: are preferred to Minot Catholic Schools Foundation or the University of Mary in Bismarck.

To sign the online guest register for Mary
To view the online guest register for Mary

Back to Obituaries