Mary Beth Goodnature Mulligan was born Sept. 26, 1954, in Albert Lea, to Daniel and Wilma (Van Hal) Goodnature. She was raised on the family farm in the Geneva/Ellendale area and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. At age 16, she moved with her family into Geneva and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1972. She attended Rochester Community College and St. Marys School of Practical Nursing. Following her education she worked at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. While working as an RN at St. Mary’s, one of the many patients she cared for was her future husband, Terry Mulligan. They married July 19, 1980, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester. After marriage they lived in Northfield and Mary Beth worked at Three Links Care Center. In 1988, they moved to their home in Bridgewater Township. For the past 10 years Mary Beth has owned and operated a craft business and raised pumpkins, and for the past seven years has sold Mary Kay products — ­all of which she enjoyed throughly. Throughout it all, she most enjoyed being at home with her children.

Mary Beth was a member of the Church of St. Dominic. She enjoyed crafts and her craft shop, antiques and garage sales, and selling Mary Kay. She was kind, patient and just plain “nice.” The true focus of her life was her husband and children and she succeeded at being the greatest wife and mother they could have ever hoped for. She will be truly missed.

Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Terry; four children: Tommy of Northfield, Dan of Chicago, Megan and Ann of Northfield; her sister, Beverly (Tom) Bartl of Newport; two brothers: David (Rita) Goodnature of Owatonna and Gary (Iris) Goodnature of Albert Lea; her mother-in-law, Luella Mulligan of Northfield; two sisters-in-law: Karen (Ward) Blandin of Northfield and Joan Mulligan of Rochester; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Jerald; her father-in-law, Thomas Mulligan; her sister-in-law, Barbara Mulligan; and brother-in-law, Tim Mulligan.

Mary Beth passed away at home, surrounded by her family, on Sunday evening, Sept. 5, 2010, at the age of 55.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield with Friar Dennis Dempsey officiating. Music will be provided by Marlys Mouser and interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Northfield. Casket bearers will be Steven Bartl, Tommy Bartl, Chris Blandin, Greg Blandin, Bill Goodnature, Nick Goodnature and Tommy Goodnature. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the Church of St. Dominic. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church one hour prior to the funeral.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.