Mary Lois Gee

Mary Lois (Leff) Gee, age 100, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 6, 2025. Mary was born on June 13, 1925, to Emil and Selma (Ericson) Leff in Winthrop, Minnesota. She joined brother Everett and sister Doris. Mary’s siblings were 8 and 10 years older, so the farm kittens were precious playmates for her. The family moved several times in south central Minnesota, farming at Winthrop, in Gibbon, back to Winthrop, and in Fairfax. Then they bought a farm in Hector where Mary completed her senior year of high school.

Mary had one year of electronics school in Minneapolis and then was sent to Atlanta, Georgia, with a classmate for more training and to work at the airport documenting air traffic communications. She did that same job in Savannah, Georgia, for a few months before moving back to Minneapolis because her roommate was homesick and because of the cockroaches. Mary then worked as a Teletype Operator at M&O (Minnesota and Ontario Paper), a company that operated paper mills.

A young man from Minneapolis named Harold W. Gee worked a few blocks away at Bemis Company. He and his buddies were bowling one evening in early 1946. They asked to share a lane with some young women who were out bowling as well. Harold and Mary were soon a couple, dating just three months before becoming engaged. They were married on June 14, 1947, and had over 68 wonderful years together.

Early on in their marriage they bought a little house and settled in Crystal, Minnesota. In a few years boys began arriving, Harley (1953), Randall (1954), William (1956). After building a bigger house in New Hope, there came Gregory (1959) and Leonard (1964). Mary was a devoted mother and homemaker, and she also assisted Harold with bookkeeping for his new company that he founded, GEECO, General Engineering and Equipment Company, an industrial parts distributor. When the boys were grown Mary served as the Activities Coordinator at Mission Farms, a detox center on Medicine Lake. Mary then served as Secretary to the Pastor at Church of the Open Door.

Harold and Mary enjoyed their lake home on Crow Wing Lake near Brainerd, Minnesota, and their Arizona home in Sun City Tucson (Oro Valley). They wintered in Arizona for over 25 years together, enjoying the desert, new–found friendships, and many visits from family and friends. Also, many beautiful memories have been made at the Minnesota lake “cabin,” which Mary’s children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren still enjoy.

Harold and Mary were a part of many congregations over the years, in Baxter/Brainerd, Tucson, and the Twin Cities, including The Church of the Brethren in the early years. Crystal Free (now New Hope Church) was their church home for many years when they lived in New Hope and later when they had their condo in Plymouth. Their church families were very supportive to Mary when Harold suffered a major stroke and passed away less than 24 hours later on September 21, 2015, at the age of 93.

Mary stayed in Plymouth for two years after Harold died, and then moved to The Rivers Retirement Community in Burnsville, Minnesota, at the age of 92. She embraced her new neighborhood and joined South Suburban Church. Mary enjoyed eight years at The Rivers, taking part in regular devotions, chapel services, game nights, and special music and educational programs. She volunteered as the librarian and categorized all the books. Mary made many new friends and became a favorite of the staff.

Mary surprised hospice by living to see age 100 on June 13. And she surprised 70 guests by getting out of bed and making a grand appearance at her birthday party. Mary’s deep faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the bedrock of her life. Taking The Four Spiritual Laws to heart when she was in her 40’s, she committed her life to Christ and became a woman of prayer and a student of the Bible.

Mary was also known for being a big Twins baseball fan, always being ready for a card game (usually 500), keeping her many scrapbooks/photo albums up-to-date, being tech savvy, playing the piano (self-taught), beating her grandkids online in the crossword-style “Words With Friends,” her love of birds and flowers and music, the beautiful pictures she painted, and being 100% Swedish. Mary was truly one-of-kind, displaying generosity, great listening, caring, amazing humility, determination, creativity, an adventurous spirit, inner strength, sweetness, grace, and above all a deep love for Jesus.

Mary is survived by her children, Harley (Karen Hudson), Randy (Roberta), Bill (Andrea), Greg (Kristin), and Lenny (Kathy); grandchildren, Laura (JP Botten), Ellen, Spencer, Rich (Jen), Ryan (Jenny Heimbush), Taylor, Kara (Joanna) Bree, Derek (Kayla), Nathan (Hannah), and Peter (Rachel); great-grandchildren, Russell, Jillian, Katrina Guyer (Cameron Chavez), Titus, Willow, Simeon, and Wesley.

Her family is thankful for all The Rivers staff and caregivers who loved on Mary; Mulie Abera was extra-special, calling Mary “grandma” and visiting even when off-duty. We are grateful for the Interim Hospice Team and Mary’s wonderful caregivers of the last three months, Connie Zweber, Lena Rathke, Maria Neyers, and Barb Rambeck. Mary also enjoyed frequent visits with her pastor Hank Griffith who became a close friend.

The funeral is planned for Tuesday, August 12. The visitation is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and the service at 11:00 a.m. at South Suburban Church, 12600 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. A luncheon will follow at the church, and interment will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Lebanon Cemetery, Apple Valley.

Please click here to watch a recording of Mary’s service.