Funeral services for Mary Thurston Bennett will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Bonnerup Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mary passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 86 years of age. Mary lived most of her life in Albert Lea, but moved to Minneapolis in July of 2002 to be closer to her family. She died at the Jones Harrison Residence in Minneapolis. While we are thankful for her peace, we will miss her loving presence, independent spirit, energy and determination.

Mary was born on Nov. 25, 1916, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Locklynn and Eva (Johnson) Thurston. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1934, and moved to Minneapolis to attend business school. She enjoyed living in the Twin Cities and loved to shop and attend the theater with her sister, Dorothy. After completing business school, she moved back to Albert Lea and began working in the business office at Wilson’s Meat Packing Plant. It was there that she fell in love with her future husband, Harry Edward Bennett. They were married on Aug. 11, 1940. Mary continued to work at Wilson’s until the birth of her son, Bill, in 1954. A daughter, Margaret, was born in 1955. On July 4, 1961, her husband died unexpectedly, leaving Mary to raise two children on her own.

Mary was active in the First Presbyterian Church for many years, attending circle and working as a deacon. Her hobbies included gardening, refinishing furniture, craft making, knitting, needlework, playing bridge, and traveling. One of the highlights of her life was a trip to England with her son at the age of 79. They enjoyed visiting London and driving through the countryside for seven wonderful days.

Mary had a great love for her family and friends. She had a gift for making the people around her feel special. She will be remembered with great affection by all of the people whose lives she touched. Mary will be greatly missed by her family: son, Bill Bennett and his wife Tami of Minnetonka; and daughter, Margaret Piepkorn and her husband Tim of Plymouth.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Bennett; sister, Dorothy Burgett; brothers: Thomas Thurston and Charles Thurston; mother, Eva Johnson Thurston; and father, Locklynn Thurston.

Memorials are preferred to Jones Harrison Residence, 3700 Cedar Lake Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55416, or First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea.