Mary Eleanor Hess

Mary E. Hess, 87, of Benson died Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 29, 2022, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson, followed by the funeral service at 3:00 p.m. Interment will be at a later date at the Benson City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to be given to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson, MN. Recorded funeral service will be made available following the service on the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Facebook page. Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson. www.zniewskifuneralhome.com

Mary Eleanor Hess was born July 24, 1935, in Glasgow, Montana, the daughter of Herman Max and Evelyn Kathleen (Tracy) Tolzien. She was baptized September 13, 1935, at the Lutheran Church of Glasgow, MT, by Rev. Harold Sigueland and confirmed September 10, 1950, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Beardsley, MN by H.M. Warnke. Mary grew up in Wheaton, MN and the Dumont area, Beardsley, MN on farms. Mary attended school in Wheaton and Dumont, first attending country school and then went on to graduate from the Beardsley High School. On September 24, 1954, Mary was united in marriage to Patrick R. Hess at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Beardsley, MN, by Rev. Wm Krueger. This union was blessed with over 67 years together and three daughters. They lived in Brown’s Valley, MN; Babbitt, MN for two years; Ortonville, MN for nine years and Benson, MN for over 50 years. Mary worked as a cook at the Swift County Benson Hospital for over 24 years. Mary belonged to L.W.M.L., taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school. Her hobbies and interests include, horseback riding, working with flowers, sewing, ice skating and roller skating.

Mary passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at St. Cloud Hospital. She attained 87 years and 29 days of age. Mary is survived by her husband Patrick R. Hess of Benson. Daughters: Gisele (Michael) Freitag of Elizabeth, MN, Peggy (Gerald) McKeown of Callaway, MN and Lisa (Timothy) Yue of Shakopee, MN; eight grandchildren: Sarah (Greg) Poepping, Jacob (Ryan McGuire) Freitag, Leah (Dustin) Maertens, Rebekah (Tom) Donner, Anita (Dan) Thorson, Samantha Beshear, Joshua (Maren) Yue and Meredith (Paul) Elsing; 15 great-grandchildren: Jackson, Jadah and Jaron Poepping, Jaden, Clara and Emma Thorson, Luke, Michael, Patrick and baby Donner, Violet, Gus and Scarlet Maertens, baby Yue and Thomas Elsing. Sister: Phyllis (James) Oletzke of Blaine, MN and sister in-law: Gloria Tolzien of Minneapolis, MN.

Mary was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; grandson in-law: Matt Beshear; brother: Dennis Tolzien; brothers in-law: Lawrence Hess, Ronald Sears and Jerry Hess; sisters in-law: Doris Hess and Donna Hess. Blessed be the memory of Mary Eleanor Hess.