Mary Jane Wilkinson

Mary J. Wilkinson, 90 of Moorhead, formerly Downer, Minnesota, died Saturday, July 31, 2010 in Sanford Hospital, Fargo. The funeral service will be Thursday at 11:00 in the Baker-Downer Westminster Presbyterian Church Baker, Minnesota with Pastor Wendy Ward officiating. John Schenck will serve as soloist, accompanied by organist Marlys Schenck. Pallbearers are John Pender, Rick Pender, Tim Pender, Brian Lien, Bill Austin, Freemont Pender, Ray Pender and Leonard Boone. Honorary Pallbearers are all people who are nice enough to come to the services. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 " 8 with a prayer service at 7 in Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville and two hours before the service on Thursday, at the church. Interment is in Elkton Cemetery, rural Downer, Minnesota. Mary Jane, daughter of Ray and Myrtle (Cook) Pender, was born March 30, 1920 on the family farm near Downer where she attended District 58 Country School and grew to womanhood. She graduated from Barnesville High School in 1938 and attended Moorhead State Teachers College, now Minnesota State University Moorhead. Mary Jane married Milton H. Wilkinson on February 9, 1941 at the parsonage of the Glyndon Congregational Church. They made their home in Downer where they raised their family. For 20+ years she was employed with Mainline Potato Company. Mary Jane was an active member and Elder of the Baker-Downer Westminster Presbyterian Church, the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries and National Womens Organization. She is survived by three sons, Milton (Kathy) Wilkinson of Franklin Lake, Minnesota, John (Lorna) Wilkinson of West Fargo, North Dakota and David Wilkinson of Moorhead, Minnesota; two daughters, Jeralyn Fromm of Fargo, North Dakota and Ramona Daugherty of Perley, Minnesota; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, Wendy (Jay) Papasan of Austin, Texas and their children, Augustus and Veronica; Jason (Nicole Hongerholt) Restemayer of Marysville, Washington and their children, Skyler, Ty and Aydenn Restemayer, and Heidi Wilkinson of Moorhead; Paula (Troy) Wilkinson of Fargo and their children, Olivia and Gavin; Jerad (MaryBeth) Wilkinson of Moorhead and their daughter, Khloe; Crystal Fromm of Fargo and her children, Daja and Anastasia; Shari Roesinveldt of Las Vegas, Nevada; Patrick Daugherty of Moorhead; Michael (Vicki) Daugherty of Moorhead and their children Taylor and Madison; Dana (Ashleigh) Daugherty of Fargo and their children, Izaiah and Giana; Dalee Wilkinson of Grand Forks; Laura Wilkinson of Moorhead and Carter Wilkinson of Moorhead. She is also survived by one brother, Walter (Mary Lou) Pender of Glyndon and one sister, Colleen (Bill) Fuller of McMinnville, Oregon; three sisters-in-law, Myrtle Pender, Dorothy Pender both of Moorhead and Bea Wilkinson of Fargo; one brother-in-law, Don Short of Fargo and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, Milton, Sr.; her parents, one son, Frances; four brothers, Howard, Raymond, Jerry and Bruce and two sisters; Helen Austin and Donna Rae Short.