Mary Uppstrom

Mary Starheim Uppstrom, 95, of Le Sueur, died on September 4, 2019.  Memorial services will be held Friday, November 15, 2019 at Kolden Funeral Home, Le Sueur.  Visitation at 10 am, Service at 11am. Rev. Rosemary Rocha is officiating with Interment in Mound Cemetery, Le Sueur.

Mary Starheim Uppstrom was born September 12, 1923, in Minneapolis, to John and Mathilda (Larson) Starheim.  Mary graduated from Roosevelt High School, June 3, 1941, went to business school and worked as a Customer Service Representative for Williams Hardware, a wholesale hardware company in Minneapolis, until 1951.  Mary met Oscar R. Uppstrom as her customer, when he purchased sheet metal for his business, Uppstrom’s Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Heating in Le Sueur.  Mary and Oscar were married, December 29, 1950 by Rev. Ben Swede in Le Sueur.  Mary moved to Le Sueur, February 15, 1951, joining Oscar as the bookkeeper in their business.  They sold their shop to Gene Winters in 1963 and developed Uppstrom’s Addition, which Mary named Elm Court, in Le Sueur.  During this time, Mary also graduated from real estate school in Minneapolis.  Mary was a member of the Presbyterian Church until closing, then Zion United Church of Christ, and BPW.

Mary died eight days shy of her 96th birthday, Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at her home, with the care of her family.  Mary was an accomplished Rosemaling artist, our very own Julia Child – always making new recipes along with traditional Swedish & Norwegian cuisine, which she shared with family and friends! 

Mary was indeed, an inspiration to her family, working alongside her husband, together raising two daughters, Julie and Jeanie.  She is survived by two daughters, Julie (Eugene) Petzel of Le Sueur, and Jeanie (Michael) Kronenberg of Sandy, UT; six grandchildren, John Petzel, Abigail Petzel, Michael (Chelsea) Petzel, Heidi Petzel, Tim Kronenberg, and Leah Kronenberg; two great-granddaughter’s, Olivia and Eloise Petzel; nieces and nephews; along with special nieces, Karen Murray of O’Fallon, MO and Connie Clark of Cleveland, MN. 

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oscar; sister, Juliet (Dr. Lendon H.) Smith of Portland, OR; brothers-in-law, Elmer (Caroline) Uppstrom and John Uppstrom; sisters-in-law, Julia (Willard) Uppstrom Munns, Margaret Burgess, and Evelyn Uppstrom.

Our family is very thankful to share in Mary’s life which combined grace, and dignity with the highest quality and quantity of years.

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