She attended country school, graduated eighth grade from St. Aloysius Catholic School and then Olivia High School in 1945. She attended one year of Teacher Training in Hutchinson, MN and taught for ten years in Renville County country schools. She continued to take classes and graduated with a BA in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University, followed by another ten years of teaching in St. Louis Park, Richfield, and Brownton, MN.

She met her husband, Willis “Chick” Laraway, at a classmate’s wedding, and they were married on August 2, 1952, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia. Their jobs took them to Hutchinson and Willmar, and they eventually settled in New Ulm in 1964, and started Laraway Roofing. Together they raised their four children in New Ulm, becoming active and supporting them in many activities including athletics, dance, music, 4-H, and showing horses. Mary joined the Church of St. Mary’s, and for years engaged in CCW events, Palm Sunday Brunch, Fall Festival, funeral lunches, and teaching CCD classes. She was a loyal supporter of New Ulm Area Catholic Schools and felt immense satisfaction in being able to help the schools with their needs. In addition to working with her husband in the roofing business, she owned and managed Sunnyvale Court in St. Peter, MN; two 12-unit low-income apartment buildings. She enjoyed the 29 years she spent forming tenant friendships and assisting them with comfortable, affordable housing. They hosted foreign exchange students from Germany and Brazil, and she continued to have an ongoing friendship with Fernando from Brazil.

In 1988, Mary and Willis moved to their cabin on Long Lake near Longville, MN. They spent the summer months there, and to warm up in the winter, they lived in Gold Canyon, AZ for 30 years. Mary loved to garden, cook, and entertain. As a member of St. Edward’s in Longville, she enjoyed adorning the altar each week with flower arrangements she created herself, many times picking wildflowers along the roadside or using plants from her own gardens. As a member of St. George’s in Arizona, she was instrumental in organizing their annual Women’s Tea and serving funeral luncheons. Her faith led her to Colorado in 1993, when she traveled with her two oldest granddaughters to hear Pope John Paul II speak at World Youth Day. Mary and Willis moved back to New Ulm in 2013.

Growing up, Mary loved sports and enjoyed nightly ball games on the farm with her father and siblings. Her love for sports and activity continued to grow, and at 69 years old she completed the MS TRAM (The Ride Across MN) in one week. She was a loyal Minnesota sports fan, and found joy in watching the Vikings, Timberwolves, Gophers, and her favorite, the Minnesota Twins. With her adventuresome spirit, Mary learned to fly and after nine lessons, she took her first solo flight. She accompanied her husband flying to the cabin and around the country, logging over 1,000 flight hours together. Mary loved to travel and she visited Mexico, Britian, Ireland, Europe, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and many of the states in the US. She made friends wherever she traveled!

Always energetic and ready for the next visit, trip, or adventure, Mary lived a FULL life as a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, special auntie, and friend to all. Mary was a generous, kind, and compassionate women, who saw good in everyone. She was faith filled and grateful to God for every blessing and challenge in her life.

In these last few years, Mary adapted to her move to Ridgeway on 23rd and later Oak Hills with dignity and grace, making the best of the situation. She was always humble and appreciative of the assistance she received. She truly added a “spark” to both communities!

Left to celebrate her life are her children: Steve (Peggy) of St. Cloud, MN; Jane (John) Kerr of Monument, CO; Dean (Shirley) of New Ulm, MN; and Juli (Paul) Halverson of Shoreview, MN. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Anne (Nate) McMurry and children Jack, Cameron, and Emmy of Edina, MN; Stephanie (Tom) Steidl and children Edie and Hank of Delano, MN; Michael Laraway of Minneapolis, MN; Amy (Robby) Reisdorf of Richfield, MN; Alex (Jess) Halverson and daughter Ava of Golden Valley, MN; Julia Kerr and fiancé Brendan Grange of Centennial, CO; Megan (Kelton) Reinert of Buffalo, MN; Kyle Halverson of Golden Valley, MN; Emma Kerr of Stanford, CA; sisters Eileen Gass of Bird Island, MN; and Karyn (Bill) Corley of Avon Park, FL; and many cherished nieces, nephews, and special friends, including Kim and Ron Kelm, Camie Kannegiesser, Julie Kraus, Judy Gramentz and the entire AZ MountainBrook Village group.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John & Emma (Kubesh) Dillon; her husband Willis; siblings Gene, Alice, Marjorie, Rose, Jack, and their spouses; and brother-in-law Bill.

Mary was lovingly referred to as “GG” by her six great grandchildren, one of whom sent her a note that read, “The world is better with you in it!”

Blessed be her memory.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm. Monsignor Douglas Grams will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley in Little Falls at a later date. Livestreaming of the Mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 on the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes – North Chapel in New Ulm. Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Ulm. Memorials preferred to New Ulm Area Catholic Schools, 514 N. Washington Street, New Ulm, MN 56073

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