Mary Jane Smith

Funeral services for Mary J. Smith, age 88, of Milaca, formerly of New Brighton, will be held Friday, April 05, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Milaca United Methodist Church with Rev. Joyce Slostad officiating.  Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca.  Visitation will be held Thursday, April 04 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church.

Mary Jane Smith was born January 19, 1931 to John and Dorothea (Snow) Polson in Plummer, Minnesota. As a child, she moved with her family to Foreston.  After high school, she moved to Minneapolis, where she worked at Honeywell for a number of years.  She met Louie Smith and they married in 1957.  They raised three daughters and lived in New Brighton for 37 years.  She worked in the 621 School District in New Brighton as a head cook for 25 years.

Mary enjoyed crocheting, canning vegetables, and of course, cooking.  She loved her lake home, where she spent many summer weekends with her grandchildren.  She also loved spending time later with her great-grandchildren.

She passed away peacefully with her daughters by her side on March 29, 2019 at the Milaca Elim Home.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Patti (Jim) Bohnen of Andover, MaryLou (Randy) Cowan of Ham Lake, and Cheryl (Mike) Ziegler of Milaca; seven grandchildren, Jeff (Jess) Cowan, Melissa (Blake) Bockwoldt, Christy (Matt) Collins, Rick Bohnen, Stacey Cowan (Jason Pantlin), Brian Cowan, and Joe Bohnen; seven great-grandchildren, Madison and Morgan Collins, Olivia and Lincoln Pantlin, Reed and Riley Bockwoldt, and Theodore Cowan; sisters, Arleen Elliott of Brainerd and Kathy (Frank) Adams of Minneapolis; brother, Gene Polson of Brainerd; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothea Polson; husband, Louie;  sisters, Joan Lewandowski, Shirley Block, and Ellen Moline;  brother, Ben Polson; also by sisters and brothers-in-law, niece and nephews.