Mary Ann Nord

Mary Ann (Lay) Nord June 21, 1936 - October 15, 2023 Born on the longest day of the year, our Summer Wind, Mary Ann (Lay) Nord passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, October 15, 2023. She was 87 years young. Mary Ann was born on June 21, 1936, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, welcomed by her parents Leonard and Mildred Lay and big brother Jim. She grew up in Mobridge, South Dakota where her fun-loving personality and hijinks may be local legend. After graduating from Mobridge High School in 1954, Mary Ann attended classes at Northern State University in Aberdeen and later moved to Minneapolis with her parents where she studied at the Minnesota School of Business. After graduation, Mary Ann began working at Northwestern Drug Company in downtown Minneapolis with her future sister-in-law Joyce Nord (Murphy). She soon met Harry "Swede" Nord through Joyce and began dating shortly thereafter. Mary Ann and Swede enjoyed each other's company at baseball games, dances and parties - they married in 1959 and settled in North Minneapolis and later Robbinsdale. Mary Ann and Swede were blessed with three sons, Lee, Brian and Terry. Mary Ann was initially a stay-at-home mom raising her boys while being active in the PTA, the Cub Scouts and helping take care of a few of the neighborhood kids. As her boys got older, she returned to working full time at Prudential Insurance and then Lincoln Electric before retiring in 1993. While raising three boys and working outside the home kept her busy, she was also able to enjoy her hobbies of tennis and golf and social butterfly extraordinaire. Her love of golf, fashion, and hanging out with the boys and all their friends were life-long passions. For many years, Mary Ann and Swede wintered in Yuma, Arizona and spent summers near Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. They both had life-long friends and always made new, dear friends wherever they lived. Sadly, Swede passed away in 2011. Supported by her many Arizona friends, Mary Ann made Yuma her permanent residence and always had a place for her sons, grandkids and northern friends to visit. In 2020, Mary Ann moved back to Minnesota where she spent her final years. Mary Ann was preceded in death by husband Swede; parents Leonard and Mildred; brother Jim and many dear and special friends. She is survived by her three sons, Lee (Shari), Brian (Jackie) and Terry (Jodi); four grandchildren Matthew, Caren (Andre), Jake and Abby; and three great-grandchildren Edward, Nico and Joanna; along with extended family and numerous friends young and old and in between. Mary Ann had a friendly, fun-loving personality and was often the life of the party. She enjoyed people and always seemed to meet someone new wherever she'd go. A loyal friend, Mary Ann made many fun memories with these people she held dear. Please enjoy a Rum and Coke. as we remember "Mary Ann with the Shaky Hands", our "Summer Wind". Special thanks to her newest friends, her social and caregiver family at Copperfield Hill-The Lodge and North Hospice, for helping her make her final months far more bearable for her. It was so comforting to know that she was so well looked after up until the end. The family will be remembering Mary Ann with an informal celebration of life, and, per Mary Ann's wishes, immediate family will gather in Mobridge and release her ashes to the prairie's Summer Wind. The summer wind. Warm summer wind. Mmm, the summer wind

Tributes

Mary Ann Nord

July 21, 1936 - October 15, 2023

Tributes

Mary Ann Nord

July 21, 1936 - October 15, 2023

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