Mary Jane Schmierer

Mary Jane Schmierer, 89, of Fargo, died on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at Waterford at Harwood Groves in Fargo. Mary Jane was born to Conrad and Mae Langlie on August 6, 1921. She grew up and attended school in Fargo, graduating from Fargo Central High School in 1939. She attended North Dakota State University, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married Ralph B. Schmierer of Fargo on October 30, 1942, in Yuma, Arizona, while he was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. They lived in San Francisco until he went overseas. Mary Jane then returned to Fargo where she worked at the First National Bank and later the International Harvester Co. She also served as a Gray Lady for the Minnkota Red Cross at that time. After the war, the Schmierer’s lived in Minneapolis, MN, for five years before returning to Fargo in 1950 when Mr. Schmierer joined the Dakota Clinic as Clinic Administrator. Mary Jane was a charter member and past president of the Dakota Hospital Auxiliary, which awarded her a lifetime membership. She was a member of the Junior league and served as chairman of the Women’s Division of the United Fund. She was an active member of the First Congregational Church for over 50 years. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends in the bridge club and also with the couples group at the Fargo Country Club. While her winter home was in Maui, Hawaii, she loved working in her flower gardens and spending time at their lake cottage on Pelican Lake. Mary Jane is survived by her loving husband Ralph, two children, Kathy, Fargo, ND, Brad (Sissy), Scottsdale, AZ; two grandsons, Baxter Pearson (Trisha) and Tyler Pearson, all of Fargo. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010, at First Congregational Church in Fargo at 2:00pm, with a private burial to follow at Riverside Mausoleum.