"I really miss Mary's cheerful smile and laugh. I knew her when my husband and I moved to St. Paul over 24 years ago. Mary was such a great friend; she is greatly missed. After all these years I still have a post card from her she sent to us when she went on vacation. She will never be forgotten. Thanks Mary for being such a great friend!"
In loving memory of
Mary Clerc
May 6, 1965 - October 18, 2008
Mary Beth Clerc was born on May 6, 1965, in Pipestone, Minnesota to Norman Gene and Esther Louise (Gundermann) Nelson. She was baptized on May 30, 1965, in Pipestone, Minnesota and later was confirmed on April 8, 1979, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Lake. Mary received her early education through the third grade in the Jackson Public Schools before her family moved to Mountain Lake where Mary graduated in the Class of 1983.
On July 7, 1997, Mary was united in marriage to Rick Clerc in Bradenton, Florida. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Ethan and Colin. After marriage, Mary and Rick lived in Windom where Mary worked at McDonald's. For the past six years, Mary battled cancer and fought the disease courageously until passing away, on October 18, 2008, with her family at her bedside, at the Fairmont Medical Center in Fairmont at the age of 43 years.
Mary was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield where she served on the Hot Lunch Board for the school. Her family was her number one love, focus, and concern; especially her two sons, Ethan and Colin. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Immanuel Lutheran School in Lakefield and shopping for her two sons.
Mary's grateful family includes her husband, Rick Clerc of Windom; two sons, Ethan Clerc age 10 and Colin Clerc age 9 both at home in Windom; parents, Norman and Esther Nelson of Mt. Lake; father and mother-in-law, Wes and Linda Clerc of Fairmont; mother-in-law, Joni Charbonneau of Brooklyn Park; six siblings, David and Connie Nelson of Comfrey; Mike and Kelly Nelson of Mt. Lake; Mark and Lynn Nelson of Ham Lake; Lisa and Bjorn Hurlen of Alexandria; Lona and Jim Baumann of Eagan; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Mary is preceded in death by one brother, Danny Nelson.
Blessed be the memory of Mary Beth Clerc.
Tributes
"albert quiram class mate i knew mary and her family for a long time since i was little i just found out now that she passed away i can,t believe she is gone she always helped me out in school in dale werner class room t,a i did not know she was sick. i will miss her she was one year older them me she was 43 and im 42 i always talked to her at mcdon everytime i go there you have my deepest regret. and family. which i knew for years."
"Missing you dearly my beloved Sister...life w/out you will never be the same."