The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Mary Rinkel, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at Perham Hospital in Perham.

Mary was born Sept. 1, 1941, in Perham, to Frank and Mildred (Mullen) Scully. She was raised on a farm outside of Dent and graduated from Perham High School. She received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from St. Gabriel’s in Little Falls.

She worked as an RN in various hospitals before becoming an educator, and developed and helped grow the nursing program at Wadena Technical College. It was a great joy when a former student came up to her and thanked her for the experience she provided.

She met and soon married Vern Rinkel July 13, 1963. They lived in Duluth, Iowa, Omaha and Hawaii before settling in Wadena to raise their family.

Mary had a lifelong love of learning and encouraged that in her children. She believed firmly in our responsibility to help each other and improve our world. She was a diverse artist who had a love of creativity in all forms. This was most obvious in her focus on creating memorable family events from her elaborate birthday cakes to the theme parties and family Christmas traditions.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Vern; her infant brother, Raymond; and parents.

Mary is survived by her siblings, Dorothy (Tom) Noud, Jim (Anita) Scully, Larry (Marcy) Scully, and Teresa (Bruce Uttermark) Scully; children, Jeffry (Sharyl) Rinkel, Michaela (Cindy Klein) Rinkel, John (Kelly) Rinkel and Andrea (Mike) Jessen; grandchildren, Jennifer, Patrick (Alana), Jessica, Kallia, Jarred, and Ethan; and a great-granddaughter, Callia.

Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., with a rosary at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the church

Memorial Service: 2 p.m. Friday, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Wadena,

Clergy: Revs. Donald Wagner and Kurtis Gunwall

Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Wadena, in the spring

Funeral Home: Johnson-Schuller Chapel, Wadena

Condolences may be sent online at www.SchullerFamilyFH.com