Obituary of Mary Ann Elwood

Mary Ann Elwood, of Richfield, MN, age 75, passed away peacefully from conditions of Parkinson’s/dementia on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at Augustana Care View Chapel in Hopkins, MN. She was born on February 15, 1942 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Arnold and Adeline (Shane) Schmidt and was the eldest of six children. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Bangor, Wisconsin. On several occasions, she would mention how she disliked one particular farm chore; the gathering of the eggs from the chicken coop and being pecked at! Upon graduating from Bangor High School, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and started working for the Telephone Company (at the time it was known as Northwestern Bell and/or “Ma Bell” by the employees, back in the day). She retired as a Data Transmission Circuit Designer after 41 years of service. Keeping with her Lutheran Faith that she grew up with, she became a member of and made Pilgrim Lutheran Church & School her church home. After moving to the “City”, she came to reside in Richfield where she started and raised a family and lived out her life. Mary will be remembered for her loving and caring ways. She cherished her time spent with her beautiful granddaughters and sweet great-grandson. She enjoyed sewing, baking from her favorite recipes; such as her chocolate chip date cake! She also liked going for walks, gardening, reading Danielle Steel novels and watching gameshows: The Price is Right, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in which her sister knew not to call and talk to her when her shows were on. Those who knew her remember her being organized and tidy, quick witted and very giving of herself with her time, resources and love. Often times she expressed her love to family and friends through baked goods and hot dishes! Mary was preceded in death by her parents and survived by her loving husband of nearly 18 years, Dennis Charles Elwood (they were married on April 21, 2000); son, Todd Ohland and daughter, Tracy Ohland; grandchildren, Morgan (Cody) Dumont, Rebecca (fiancé Kyle) Ohland and Anna Ohland and their mother, Elizabeth (Jeff) Fairchild; Kylee Ohland and Brody Ohland; great-grandson, Carson Dumont; siblings, Arlan (Mary) Schmidt, Allan (Becky) Schmidt, Randy (Judy) Schmidt, Sue (Quin) Feuerstein; nieces and nephews and other loving family and friends. Memorial Service to be held on Friday, January 12, 2018 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church & School, 1901, First Ave. South, Mpls. MN 55409. Visitation at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m., luncheon to follow.