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Mary B. Jordal
Mary was born on May 17, 1934 in Minneapolis to parents Reuben and Aloysia Anderson. She passed away on February 11, 2019 in Scandia, Minnesota. Mary's father died when she was only 10, a victim of the flu, and Mary became a sort of mother to her only sibling, Jane, who was almost ten years her junior. The small family of her mother, Mary, and sibling Jane resided in the Robbinsdale/Crystal suburbs of Minneapolis, where Mary eventually met and married Jack Bury, who ran a small construction company. Jack died of cancer when Mary was 48, leaving her with four children, Mark, Paul, Jeff, and Susan. After a grieving period, Mary met Jim Jordal, who had recently divorced, at a dance class for singles where, as Jim said, “I knew that if I invited Mary for coffee following the class, that my singles career was over,” and so it was. They resided in Minnetonka for a few years, where Mary continued to run her growing business. But the high interest rates of the early 80's put an end to the business, and both she and Jim retired, he from teaching at Hopkins High School. Then began an extended period of adventure travel with columnist Jim Klobuchar, who had recently opened an adventure travel company. Their first trip was to Alaska in 1991, and from then on they were hooked: Nepal in 1992 and a hundred-mile packing tour into the high mountains; Russia and sailing on the Volga River in 1995; Africa and the Serengeti Plain later that same year; Machu Pichu by hiking the Inca Trail in 1997; New Zealand and the Milford Track; and finally, Turkey and the great capital city of Istanbul. Mary was also a three-time age group All American triathlete, doing 56 triathlons and placing 3rd in the world championships in Orlando. But Mary's real love was helping others in activities, including showing love to some of the toughest inmates at the Woman's Work House in Minneapolis, working for 20 years at the local food shelf, and helping in any activity requiring love, tolerance, and character. Mary was truly a “winner: in every aspect of her life. We who remain will miss her sorely. But we also can visualize her running a shelter of some sort in heaven under command of Jesus her Lord. She is preceded in death by her Husband John “Jack”, father Reuben, step-father Gregor, & mother Aloysia. Mary is survived by her husband James; children Mark (Mary Nell) Bury, Susan (Doug) Daily, Paul (Patty) Bury, & Jeffrey Bury; grandchildren Ashley, Katy, John, Alan, Erin, Megan, Sara, Natalie, Ben, Anthony, Josh, Alex, Hayley, Jack, & Annalise; great granddaughter Olivia; sister Jane Anderson, and many other relatives & friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.May 17, 1934 - February 11, 201905/17/193402/11/2019
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Mary B. Jordal
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