Mary Woxland

Mary Arlith Woxland, age 73 of Rushford, Minnesota passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at home in Rushford.

Mary was born on December 10, 1943 at St Mary's Hospital in Rochester to Arthur "Art" and Mildred (Gilbertson) Johnson. She was baptized in Rochester, confirmed at the Arendahl Lutheran Church and attended the Peterson school in Peterson. Mary was raised by her aunt and uncle, Alfred and Ella (Paulson) Gilbertson. She was united in marriage to Gary M. Woxland on October 28, 1960 in Rushford. Shortly after her marriage to Gary she went where the Navy sent him for his tour of duty, living in Maryland, Tennessee and California. In 1970, the family had grown and Gary had gotten out of the Navy and they moved to Red Wing, where the family grew more. Devoting her time as a housewife and a "Navy Mom" now with 4 of her 5 children in the Navy. She moved to Winona about 1981 and then to Rushford. While in Rushford she started her own babysitting business, watching a few of the children from Rushford. She must have missed her kids to have taken on infants and toddlers every day in her retiring years. She was a member of the Rushford Lutheran Church. She enjoyed and taught herself at a very early age to sew, sewing many clothes for her children as they grew up. She also enjoyed crafts, gardening, visiting her children all over the United States, traveling, being a "snowbird" in the Arizona heat and sun, fishing with dad and the family, decorating and redecorating her house, pictures of all of her family, writing letters, reading, dancing and her two favorite dogs, Benji and Dusty.


Mary is survived by her husband, Gary of 56 years, two sons, Jody and Ron of Rushford, two daughters, Diana (Glenn) Faraone of Rushford, Melanie (Heath) Olstad of Harmony, daughter-in-law, Nicole (Gitt) Woxland of Omaha, NE; 8 grandchildren, Jessica Woxland of Massena, NY, Levi (Julia) Olstad of Harmony, Melody Olstad of Memphis, TN, Zachary Olstad of Winona, Connor Woxland of Ames, IA, Garett Woxland and Jakob Woxland of Lincoln, NE, Kelley Faraone of Rushford; 2 great grandchildren, Madeline and Samuel Olstad of Harmony; her two cousins she grew up with Doris (Robert) Sheeley of Rye, CO and Ardis (Robert) Willcox of Rushford and many brother and sister in laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; foster parents; and son, Wade Woxland.

Services to celebrate Mary's life will be 11 a.m. Monday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Rushford led by Terry Rasmussen. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home on Monday. Mary will be interred at Minnesota Veterans Cemetery in Preston. Please share a memory of Mary and view her video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.