Mary was born on September 20, 1942 in Madelia, MN to Mark and Mary (Rohe) Kelsey. She grew up on the family farm with her 9 siblings and was active in 4H as a child . She attended Mater Dolorosa Catholic School through the eighth grade and graduated from Madelia High School in 1960 where she was the Homecoming Queen. She went on to get her Registered Nursing License studying side by side with the nuns at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

She married Vern W. Arndt on November 25, 1963 – just celebrating 60 years together. They were lifelong members of Fieldon Lutheran Church. They were blessed with four children: Todd, Troy, Tamy and Trisha.

Mary worked at Truman Retirement Home, the Lake Crystal Retirement Home, and dedicated the last 25+ years before retirement to the Madelia Clinic including home-care services. Mary took medical mission trips to Guatemala, and she was a long-time member of the local Lions club, volunteering any occasion she could. Upon retiring, she took up water color painting and has gifted many beautiful keepsakes to family and friends. Mary went on many trips in her lifetime with family and friends. She loved spending time in northern Minnesota and especially loved to hear the loons on the lakes.

Mary’s life was dedicated to Love – she was the epitome of love. She loved her family, she loved her friends, she truly loved the Madelia Community as a whole and this love was based on her great love of Jesus. She was selfless in every aspect of her life, always advocating for the under dog, the elderly, and the less fortunate. She cared deeply for everyone, she kept close connections and she genuinely loved you whether you were her spouse, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, sibling, niece or nephew or one of her hundreds of friends. She kept you close to her heart and prayed for you daily. She knew when your birthday was, knew what to say when you were hurting, and she loved good conversations and great laughs. She was one of a kind and will be missed by so many.

Mary is survived by her husband, Vern Arndt, her 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Son, Todd (Glenda) Arndt of Lewisville, grandchildren: Tedd (Anna) Arndt, Alyson (Cheri) Green, Katelyn (Corey) Wiederhoeft, and great-grandchildren: Macey, Walker, Tyler, Raylan, Case, Adalynn, Laramie, Avery and Lawson; son, Troy (Annette) Arndt of Vernon Center, grandchildren: Rev. Joshua (Ivy) Arndt, Caleb (Katie Fourniea) Arndt, Danielle (Pete) Bateman, and Ethan Arndt, and great-grandchildren: Anastasia, David, Elijah, Joseph, Maeva; daughter, Tamy (Dave) Munsen of St. Peter, grandchildren: Anna (Jack) Kortuem, Mariah (Anthony) Guerreo, Matthew Munsen and Ava Munsen, and great-grandchildren: Quinn and Krew; daughter, Trisha (Ryan Bode) Arndt of Watertown, MN, grandchildren: Emma (fiancé Dylan) Ragner, Sam Ragner, Ben Ragner, and Nathan Ragner; siblings: Maynard (Sandra) Kelsey, Kenneth (Sally) Kelsey, Ruth Willock, Janet Fuchs, Steve (Sue) Kelsey, Chris (Steve) Dumke, Richard (MaryJo) Kelsey; brother-in-law, Loren Arndt; sisters-in-law, Marlene Arndt, Delona Bonkoski, Linda (Eldon) Reckard and many many nieces and nephews. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Mark and Mary Kelsey, brother, Milton Kelsey (USMC) and sister, Elizabeth “Bit” Kelsey.

Visitation will be on Monday April 1, 2024 from 4-7 pm at Salem Lutheran Church in Madelia and will continue on from 9-10:30 preceding the service at 10:30 am on Tuesday, April 2nd.

The clergy will be Rev. Greg Volbrecht. Interment will be at the Trinity Fieldon Lutheran Cemetery in Fieldon Township.

Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Madelia. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, recipient of choice memorials may be given to the family and will be distributed to the lions club and local Christian churches and schools.

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