May Crystal Mauritsen, 94

May Mauritsen was born May Crystal Bellerud on May 9, 1919, to Norwegian immigrant father Ole Martin Bellerud and second generation Danish immigrant mother “Nellie” Carrie Agnes Nelson. May was born and attended school where her folks owned a mercantile store, in Nekoma, N.D. She was the second child of three, with two brothers, Melvin and Alister.

She attended Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., and Miss Wood's College of Primary Education (later Macalester College) in St. Paul, Minn., where she graduated in 1941.

She married Vernon Mauritsen Dec. 21, 1941, and began her life of adventure, innovation, hard work and service.

May died peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 17, 2014, Presidents' Day, an apt holiday for May to pass on, because she loved both teaching and learning about American history.

Our mother was a teacher to new readers and those who struggled with reading. She taught kindergarten with knowledge that the whole child, his experience and language should be educated.

May worked tirelessly to build a lumberyard business that would prosper and add life to a small, farming community. She helped to design and decorate several new homes. Mom was the right-hand woman to a successful director (her husband, Vern) of the Concordia Language Villages, Moorhead. She was superintendent of the Lutheran Sunday School for as long as we can remember. Mom brought history and science to life for hundreds of second and third graders at Swan River School near Bigfork. Not insignificantly, she raised four children to be responsible, loving and honest, and she was a supportive, faithful wife to Vern for 72 years!

Not only was May devoted to service, as demonstrated by her accomplishments, but she is well-remembered for her joy of hospitality. If there was a reason for celebration, she brought out the party decorations, ordered a cake and invited friends and family. If someone dropped by, the coffee pot was on in seconds and a plate of cookies or cinnamon rolls was offered. We and our children, living far from her, received thoughtful gifts and treats for every holiday and birthday of the year. Visitors and family alike always knew that they were loved and special because of Mom.

May is survived by four children, daughter, Carol McDonald of San Jose, Calif., sons, Peter Mauritsen and wife Harriet, and Mark Mauritsen and wife Mecca, from Prescott, Ariz., and Artesia, N.M., respectively, and daughter, Jean Frantz and husband Paul of Eugene, Ore. May has eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

You are invited to share memories and stories at our celebration of life service for both of our parents, May and Vernon Mauritsen, planned for Saturday, July 19, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork.

 Memorials can be given to Concordia Language Villages, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, Minnesota 56562 (Attn. Melissa Rademacher) with Mauritsen Endowed Scholarship on the memo line.