Mary L. Bong

Mary L. Bong, 95, a longtime Superior resident, died Thursday, September 16, 2010 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Cloquet, MN.
She was born on January 28, 1915 in Port Arthur, Canada to Thomas and Barbara (Sebely) Miller.

Mary attended schools in Superior and graduated from the Grand Rapids High School in MN. She attended UWS from 1933 to 1935 and then again in 1959 to 1965 at which time she received her Master’s Degree in Education.
She was an educator and taught school for twenty-five and a half years in one-room schools at Nemadji, Park Point, Duluth and Pattison School in Superior.

She was a member of Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic Church and a member of the former St. Louis Parish. Her other memberships include SREA (Superior Retired Teachers Association), Sigma Omega Society, Alpha Delta Kappa professional sorority, North End Neighborhood Organization, Burlington Northern Veterans Association, Wildflower Garden Club and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.


Mary was inducted into the Superior Teachers Hall of Fame and was the 1987 Superior Citizen of the Year. She also coordinated sales people for the Superior Tree Selling Program for a number of years and served on the Park and Recreation Board and promoted the “Beautification of Superior” for a number of years.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William in 1992, brother Paul in 1945, sisters Ruby Baskas, Agnes Carlson and Kathryn McSoley, parents Barbara and Thomas Miller and a granddaughter Lori Ann Bong.

Mary is survived by two sons, Robert (Nancy) Bong and Thomas Bong; five grandchildren, Matthew (Susannah) Bong, Sarah (Peter) Menihan, Luke Bong, Chrissy (Chris) Busche and Michelle (Derek) Theisen, seven great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Lois Biron; niece, Barbara Baskas and nephew, Paul McSoley.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 28, 2010 in the Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Avenue, Superior. Visitation will resume at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 in Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic Church with a CDA rosary to be held at 10:30 AM. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM with Rev. Fr. Andrew Ricci as celebrant.

Burial will be the Graceland Cemetery.
Pallbearers for the service will be Matt and Luke Bong, Chris Busche, Derek Theisen, Peter Menihan and Dick Sandeen.

A memorial has been established in Mary’s name in honor of her love for teaching and her strong faith to Cathedral School.

To leave an online condolence or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.downs-lesage.com.