Mary J, Ferson

Mary J. Ferson, 90, of Rochester MN and a longtime Stewartville, MN resident passed away surrounded by family, on May 22, 2026 of natural causes at Samaritan Bethany on Eighth in Rochester, MN where she had been a resident since  August 2024 .

Mary Joanne Koenig was born on April 14, 1936 in Caledonia,MN to Anthony and Anna (Schiltz) Koenig. She grew up in Caledonia and attended St. Marys Catholic parochial schools, graduating in 1954. She attended St. Marys Nursing College in Rochester.  Mary was married  on October 25, 1958 in Caledonia to Eugene R. Ferson They raised their family and farmed in rural Stewartville. Mary was a farmwife and homemaker and after her children were graduated she was employed  as a nurse  at  the Stewartville Care Center for 15 years until her retirement.  The Fersons later moved to Rochester MN where Gene was employed with the City of Rochester before moving back to Stewartville, where they lived for a number of years. 

Mary was a past member of St Bernards Catholic Church of Stewartville, MN. and was a member of the Stewartville Senior Citizens. She enjoyed cooking, reading and enjoyed trips to Arkansa in the winter with Gene. She enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and loved time spent with her family, especially her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mary is survived  4 daughters and 3 sons - Brenda Jech of Rochester,  MN;  Karen(Mark) Golberg of rural Stewartville;  Angela (Doug) French of Anchor Point, AK;  Suzanne (Larry) Lawrence of  Wasilla, Ak ;  sons - Brian (Jessica) Ferson of Phillipines;  Mark (Johanna) Ferson of Rochester, MN and Jerome (Brooke) Ferson of Pine Island,MN;  daughter-in-law – Tami Ferson of Chatfield,MN; 20 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her husband – Gene, her son - Thomas R. Ferson, her parents and 10 brothers and sisters, being the youngest of her large family. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday (June 12, 2026) at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Stewartville with a time of visitation 1 hr. prior to the service. Burial and a committal service will follow at  St. Bernards Cemetery in Stewartville. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray FH in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Mary are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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