A Memorial Service for Mary L. Kjersten of Badger, MN will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 11:00AM at Oiland Lutheran Church in rural Greenbush. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau with a prayer service at 7PM, visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Mary Hoscheid was born in Baudette Minnesota in 1956 to parents Gertrude and Leonard Hoscheid. As a small child due to a family tragedy, she was taken in by Sam and Laura Shafer who raised her as their own.
Mary has 11 siblings, each of whom she loved in their own unique way. She is preceded in death by Brothers Frank (Geisla), Leonard (Iris), Pat Hoscheid and Allan Shafer, and sisters Cheryl Kvien, Sue (Tom) Reynolds and Agnes Sall. She is survived by sister Nancy (Duke), and brothers Joe (Hilda) and John (Rece) Hoscheid and Dean (Diane) Shafer. Both sets of parents have passed.
Mary attended high school in Greenbush where she gained many lifelong friends and fell in love with her husband of 50 years, Karl Kjersten. They dated through high school and eventually married on April 5th, 1975, and moved to rural Greenbush to start their family.
The first of 4 children was born in January and every couple of years they were blessed with another. KarLynn, Kelly, Kian and Kevin provided the young couple with lots of entertainment and stress over the years, but Mary loved being a mother.
The couple lived in a few different places over the years as the kids grew up. In each place they lived they settled and reunited with old friends or gained new friends. Most of whom would be lifelong friendships.
After getting married they settled on the Blawat property. The couple enjoyed spending time with high school friends LaRae and Franklin Frislie as they both had young families.
When Mary worked at the hospital she found a babysitter who also became a great friend. Linda Blumer and Mary raised their kids together and spent a lot of time together over the years celebrating birthdays, holidays and other milestones.
While living in the Malung/Falun area Mary reunited with her high school friend Diane Roseen. The two quickly realized their families and interests were aligned and their combined 8 children spent many years building forts, camping and building memories. Diane and Mary continued to be best friends through all the life challenges and happy times up to the day she passed.
In the late 80’s the couple moved their family to Williams Minnesota. Karl was working at Marvins and introduced the family to Kenny and Terri Thompson. The two families began spending time together and became really close. Their combined 9 children also became friends and the Kjerstens settled into the community and built lasting friendships.
Over the years Mary held different jobs where she met lots of people who she considered friends. She loved to take care of people and that showed in the jobs she chose.
In the early 90’s the couple decided to move back to their hometown of Greenbush. Mary was able to buy a restaurant and they ran it as a family business. This was fun and exciting for everyone. The family settled back into the town where they grew up. All 4 children graduated from the same high school as their parents. Mary and Karl eventually settled on the Kjersten family farm. They were able to build their forever home there and continued the tradition of making memories around grandma’s kitchen table.
All 4 children were married and started families after they moved to the farm. KarLynn and Mitch, Benjamin (22), Zander (15) and Meri Erickson (14). Kelly and Nicole, Brylie (18). Kian and Erin, Kylar (18), Kodye (16), Karmyn (13). Kevin and Alyssa, Hailey (20), Ava (17), Taylor (14) and Scarlett (8).
When Mary was diagnosed with cancer it shook everyone up terribly. Everyone was scared and sad, but she pulled through it. She continued to struggle with breathing and walking, but she worked and never stopped visiting her family and friends.
Mary’s greatest joy was talking about and watching her grandkids grow up. She traveled as much as she could to Montana and Owatonna where Kian and Kevin’s families reside. She loved to brag about all their accomplishments and show pictures of them all.
Last year Karl and Mary were blessed to spend time on an Alaskan Cruise with their high school friends LaRae and Franklin Frislie who were celebrating their 50 year wedding anniversary. It was a trip of a lifetime and fun was had by all.
In April of 2025 Mary and Karl celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and in May all 4 Kjersten kids gathered to celebrate Brylie’s graduation in Greenbush. It was a great day and the last time they all sat around grandma’s kitchen table with mom.
Last modified: 06/19/2025
