The funeral service for Ethel Mary Freemyer will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 10, at First Baptist Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Kent Otterman will officiate. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour before the service at the church.

Mary died on Monday, March 6, 2006, at Good Samaritan Center, Albert Lea. She was 86 years old.

Mary was born in Iowa on Sept. 1, 1919, the daughter of Robert and Lola (Bebout) Besco. She was a graduate of Conway, Iowa High School.

On Sept. 11, 1941, Mary was united in marriage with Leo B. Freemyer in Maryville, Mo. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and had been active in ladies’ groups. She had been a cook for the Albert Lea High School for many years.

Mary loved fishing, crocheting, and preparing Sunday dinners for her family. She was a supporter of Breast Cancer Research having been a 50- year survivor of breast cancer.

Mary is survived by three children: Irene Bowman of Albert Lea, Wayne Freemyer of Cottage Grove, Leo Doyle (Joan) Freemyer of Cottage Grove, seven grandchildren: Renee (John) Retzlaff of New Ulm, Jeffery (Judy) Bowman

of Albert Lea, Scott (Michelle) Freemyer of Cottage Grove, Michelle Freemyer of Plymouth, Molly Block of Cottage Grove, Melissa (Andy) Craig of Afton, Maggie Freemyer and her fianc, Rob Becker of Cottage Grove; 11 great-grandchildren: Jared Bowman, Jenna Bowman, Nathan Retzlaff, Justin Retzlaff, Ryan Montgomery, Evan Montgomery, Erin Freemyer, Trevor Freemyer, Emma Block, Caleb Craig; brother-in-law, Truman Freemyer of Farragut, Iowa, and Elmer (Kathryn) Freemyer of Wyoming.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo in 1993; son-in-law, Emery Bowman; daughter-in-law, Connie Freemyer; one granddaughter, Jodi Montgomery; brother and sisters.