Mary Lou Herding

Mary Lou Herding, 76, Wahpeton, ND, formerly of Hankinson, ND, passed away Thursday, August 1, 2013, surrounded by her family at the St. Francis Home in Breckenridge, MN.
Funeral mass was Wednesday, August 7, at 11:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton with Father Greg Haman officiating.
Burial was in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt, SD. Honorary pallbearers were the Hankinson Right to Life and the Hankinson American Legion Auxiliary. Active pallbearers were Dan Herding, Kenny Herding, Robert Herding, Byron Westphal, Perry Westphal, Glen Westphal, Darren Sedler and Jack Brandenburger.
Visitation was Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton. Visitation continued Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Mary Lou was born February 28, 1937, in Hankinson, ND, to Earl and Julia (Schroeder) Leavitt. She and her two sisters grew up on the family farm southeast of Hankinson. She attended elementary school at Greendale #1 and high school at the St. Francis Academy in Hankinson, graduating in 1955. After graduation, Mary Lou earned a teaching certificate at Valley City State Teacher's College. She taught school at various country schools in the area and also worked as a nursing assistant at the St. Gerard's Hospital in Hankinson.
On June 11, 1963, Mary Lou married Gregory Herding at St. Philip's Catholic Church in Hankinson. They made their home near New Effington, SD, before moving back to the Hankinson area and taking over her family farm. Mary Lou and Gregory retired from farming in 1997. In 2011, they moved to a new home in Wahpeton.
Mary Lou was active in many organizations over her lifetime including the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Hankinson Right to Life chapter, where she was a charter member. While living near New Effington, she taught religion classes in Rosholt. She also taught Catechism for ten years at St. Philip's Catholic Church and was active in the ladies guild.
Mary Lou enjoyed keeping their yard mowed and loved to freeze and can vegetables and fruit every summer. She was an awesome cook and loved to feed anyone who came into the yard. No one went away hungry.
Survivors include Gregory, her loving husband of 50 years; a daughter, Michelle (John) Dahlman of Rosholt; a son, Brian Herding of Grafton, ND, and his special friend Diane Langer of Fargo; five grandchildren; two sisters, Delores Westphal of Plymouth, MN, and Ellie (Lowell) Sedler of Stanchfield, MN; a brother-in-law, Philip (Agatha) Herding of Hankinson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by an infant son, Steven; a young daughter, Melinda; and her parents.