In remembrance: Locals who passed on in August
Apr 16, 2018Luther Oaks in Bloomington. She lived a long, productive and gracious life.Mary was born Dec. 30, 1929, in Hartsburg, to Albert Janssen and Pauline Marshall Lessen. She was the second child of six, and the oldest daughter. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Hartsburg-Emden High School in the spring of 1947. As a girl, she took an active role in helping her mother with the management of their home and large family.She met John Scott Hindahl, a farm boy from San Jose, at a dance in Emden, and they were married June 5, 1949. John was a Navy veteran and attended college at Millikin University in Decatur. Mary worked to help support the couple, and though she never attended college, her kids are convinced she had the intelligence, work ethic and skill to have pursued any career, from accountant to doctor to world history professor.The couple moved to nearby Bloomington when John started his career with the then-fledgling State Farm Life Insurance Co. Through his long career, Mary served as homemaker and social hostess for the many events they held in their home, making many friends along the way.Their first child, Susan, died just weeks prior to her expected birth date, but their strong Lutheran faith sustained them through this tragedy, and they went on to have three more strong, healthy children, Michael, Patricia "Trish" and David "Dave," from 1952 to 1957.The family lived briefly in Berkeley, Calif., then a few years in Birmingham, Ala., where Trish and Dave were born, and then in Salem, Ore., where the kids were raised over a 16-year stay. Mary was instrumental in creating a love of music, art and education in her children, insisting that they learn to play some sort of instrument and sing in the church choir. The family were active members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salem, where they made many lifelong friends. She also encouraged her kids to pursue sports, and always attended the sporting event, regardless of weather or other commitments. In all of her kids’ endeavors, whether they... (Bloomington Pantagraph)
