Mary Elizabeth Flower

Mary Elizabeth Flower, age 79, of Benson, Minnesota, passed away Monday morning, July 15, 2024, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar, Minnesota. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Benson, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by the funeral at 11:00 am. Burial will be at the Benson City Cemetery.

Mary Flower was born February 17, 1945, in Benson, Minnesota, the daughter of Edward C. Brown and Dorothy R. (McQuaid) Brown. She was baptized at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Mary grew up and went to school in Benson.

August 29, 1963, Mary Elizabeth Brown married Luverne Flower at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Fr. Dohr officiated the ceremony. Together Mary and Luverne raised their two sons, Jim and John.

Mary lived in Benson her entire life. She worked at various jobs throughout the years, including Shell Café, Rangaards Café, Dick’s, Viking Café, Breen’s, RedBall, DoMats, and Subway. Her most rewarding job was being a homemaker - taking care of her family.

Mary belonged to many organizations. She was a member of Homemakers, Farm Bureau, Swift County Pork Producers, Swift County Welfare Board, the Red Cross Blood Mobile, and Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ. She was a board member of the Diaconate, a Trustee, involved in Pastor Relations, on the Call Committee, and was active in Bible School Evening Circle. She started the feeding program for the youth in Benson at Pilgrim Congregation Church.

Mary was also involved in the Best Beef Supper and Chicken Supper Committees, the Chili Cookoff, and Cookbook Committee. She was in the 4-H Adult Leader Club at the county level and was on the Fundraising Committee for 4-H Entertainment to fund construction of the Swift County Fair building improvements, bringing in entertainment such as Reba McIntire, Mel Tillis, and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Mary kept busy being a part of all these organizations, but also had some hobbies. She enjoyed cooking, especially dinner parties for friends. One of Mary’s greatest joys was when her family would gather around the table to share a meal she had prepared. She loved watching the table grow year after year with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading and playing handheld games. Mary had a vast collection of cardinals and cookbooks.

Those of us awaiting our heavenly reunion with Mary are her husband of 61 years Luverne, her son Jim (Terry) Flower; daughter-in-law Rhonda Flower; grandchildren: Jared (Makayla) Flower, Sarah (Adam) Wentzel, Seth (Kali) Flower, Shane (Madisen) Flower, and Brittany Flower; great-grandchildren: Jaelyn Flower, Tayton Flower, Ty Flower, Emerson Flower, Shay Flower, Levi Wentzel, and Graham Wentzel; sister Kathie Brown of Rosemount, MN, brother Al Brown of Hutchinson, MN, and sister-in-law Karol Brown of Hutchinson, MN. Those that have gone before us are Mary and Luverne’s son John Flower, Mary’s parents Dorothy and Ed Brown, and her brother Tom Brown.