Bemidji - Mary K. "Mae" Tiegland, 99, died Monday, January 26, 1998 at the Beltrami Nursing Home in Bemidji.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 31 at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji with Pastor Kent Dudley officiating. Casketbearers were Rodney Kluzak, Richard Tollefson, Gary Vanyo, Todd Bethke, Karl Rosell and Jeff Hoyum. Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji.
Mary Katherine Smith was born on August 11, 1898 in Kane County, Illinois, the daughter of Louis and Mary (Bahre) Smith. As a young girl she moved with her family to Dawson where she attended elementary and high school. After receiving teacher's training, she began a career educating children near Grygla.
On September 17, 1921 she was united in marriage to Mikkal Tiegland at Dawson. They lived in Grygla, Dawson, Goodridge, Joliet, IL and Milwaukee, WI before moving to Bemidji in about 1945. She has resided in Bemidji since, teaching in several rural schools in the area. She was an avid reader and enjoyed board puzzles and crocheting afghans and pillows.
Mae is survived by two daughters, Mildred Brooks and Ardith (Walter) Kluzak, both of Zion, IL; one son, Douglas (Adeline) Teigland of East Grand Forks; one son-in-law, Ray Tollefson of Bemidji; ten grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and one sister, Aletha Hoyum of Duluth.
She was preceded in death by her husband on April 27, 1987; one daughter, Phyllis in 1991; one grandson; one great-grandson; two sisters; and four brothers.