Mary Esther Lehr

Mary Esther (Schnabel) Lehr, age 97 of Truman, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Fairmont. A time for visitation will be held on Tuesday April 23, 2024 5:00 - 7:00 at Zaharia Funeral Home.   Funeral services will be held at 11AM on Wednesday April 24, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman with Rev. Carol Mapa officiating. Burial will take place at Ridgelawn Cemetery.

Mary was born on September 28, 1926 in Burnstad, ND to Daniel and Grace May (Farnam) Schnabel. She graduated in 1944 from Wishek, ND and went on to attend two summers at Ellendale, ND Teachers College. Mary taught 1st through 8th grade in a one room country school for two years. On November 10, 1946, she married the love of her life, Elmer August Lehr. The couple lived in Napoleon, ND until 1961 when they moved to Truman, MN. Mary then did factory work for four years in Madelia and twenty years at Stokley's in Fairmont before retiring in 1986. After retirement she chose to continue to work cleaning houses and helping in the cafeteria at the Truman Public School.

Mary was welcoming and kind. She enjoyed being with people and often invited others to play cards, have a meal or to just sit around and talk. Mary grew up on the plains of ND with her parents and eight siblings.  She lived on a farm during the great depression and WW2. She knew how to be satisfied with lesser things and was very appreciative and generous with what she had. Mary encountered many trials during her life and it was her humble faith in the Lord that sustained her. 

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Truman, Rachel Circle, W.E.L.C.A, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, ARC Association, and Marathon Card Club.

Left to cherish her memory are her children. Ronald (Paulette) Lehr of Northrop, MN, Rodger (Debbie) Lehr of Litchfield, MN; Roxanne Lehr of Fairmont, Paulette (Kevin) Lutterman of Truman; seven grandchildren, many great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren; brother Charles, sisters Dena, JoAnne, Betty and Becky.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, brother Walter, sisters LaVerne and Edna and many inlaws.