Inkster, ND - Mary J. Muir, 104, died Monday, March 29, 1999 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 2 at 2 p.m at the Inkster Presbyterian Church in Inkster, ND with the Reverend Dan Rice officiating. Joann Durkin was the organist, and soloists were Bryan Thomas and Rev. Dr. Kenneth Peterson. Casketbearers were Tom Durkin, Orville Hulst, Scott Hulst, Stephen Hulst, Ivan Muir and Thomas Amundson. Burial was in the Inkster Cemetery. The Bakke Funeral Home of Fordville, ND was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary J. McConnachie was born on July 11, 1894 on a farm near Fordville, ND, the daughter of William and Catherine (Bannerman) McConnachie. The family moved to the home farm, called Elkmount Center Farm, in Elkmount township of Grand Forks county near Fordville. Mary grew up in the Fordville area and attended rural school.
On December 15, 1915 she was united in marriage to Roy Muir on the family farm. After their marriage, the couple moved to a farm in Strabane township of Grand Forks county. After Roy died on March 5, 1973, Mary continued to make her home on the farm.
` She was an active member of the Inkster Presbyterian Church and also a member of the WTCU, Christian Endeavor, Presbyterian Women and American Legion Auxiliary. Mary received the Jewels of Service award from the Reno Homemakers Club for her 32-year membership. She was also a member of the Daughters of North Dakota Pioneers. On her 100th birthday Mary received recognition certificates from President Clinton and Governor Schafer, and on her 103rd birthday her picture was featured on the Today Show.
Mary is survived by two sons, Robert and Richard, both of Inkster; one daughter, Catherine (Vern) Spengler of Thief River Falls; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons, Bruce and Harold; three daughters, Dorothy, Ruth and Eleanor; one grandson, Keith Spengler; four brothers, Willie, Robert, Calvin and Roy; and one sister, Margaret Murray. A00003B1999AR07