Mary Francine Hastings, peacefully passed away on February 19,2026. Mary was born in Ruthven, Iowa, to Franklin and AnnaMarie Hastings, on March 22, 1940.

The family's general store served as the nucleus of communal life, and solidified Mary's deep connection to Iowa. Upon the family's sojourn to Austin, Minnesota, Mary attended Austin Public High School and upon graduation she attended the University of Minnesota, working on the Minnesota Daily and obtaining her degree in journalism. Upon graduation she worked as a reporter on the Duluth Herald and after a year, headed west for new experiences in SanFrancisco.

The Midwest eventually called her back and she pursued a Masters in American Studies at the University of Minnesota. At the age of fifty-two, Mary, undeterred by the passage of years, obtained her Juris Doctor, having studied law at the William Mitchell School of Law.

Mary's life was a testament to her decades long dedication to the causes of justice and equality. She worked as a reporter for the Goldflower collective, championing the voices of women through that Twin Cities Paper. She was active in her union at Hennepin County, serving as a steward and a voice in negotiations. She actively supported the P-9 Strike in Austin, Minnesota. In her law practice she was committed to serving her clients with disabilities with respect and strong advocacy. She was a humble person who did not seek the spotlight. Like so many of the unsung who seek change and fairness without a need for recognition. She spoke fondly of Ethel, her mentor and friend who supported Mary as she built her law practice.

Mary's life was a rich tapestry of interests and friendships, woven with threads of intellectual curiosity and compassionate kinship. A self-proclaimed Francophile, she found solace and inspiration in the words of Sartre and de Beauvoir, and in the annals of France's history. Her love for literature spanned from the intrigue of historical novels and mysteries to the revolutionary ideas of Marx and Lenin. Later in her life, with her beloved brother Jim, she traveled to France, Amsterdam and the Caribbean. As well as travels with her longtime friend Sally.

Mary's loyalty to her friends was as unwavering as her belief in justice. She cherished her companions, from her school days to her final moments, with Barbara, Karel, Jim, Ethel, Kathy, Betty and Sally remaining ever-present in her heart. She had a wonderful sense of humor, recently declaring "I am proud to be a single cat lady!"

Mary is now reunited with loved ones gone before; her father, Franklin Hastings, her mother, AnnaMarie Hastings, and her brother, James Hastings. She leaves behind a legacy of love and wisdom to her brother Joseph Hastings, sister Margaret Hastings (Teal), niece Mary Blue, and nephews Brian (Tracy), Tim, and Jimmy Hastings (Laura), along with a troop of grandnephews.

Per her wishes, Mary shall be returned to Iowa; her ashes to rest near Ruthven and Lost Island Lake.

In lieu of a service there will be a gathering in June amongst those who loved Mary, to celebrate and remember.