Mary Dupree, 86 of Thief River Falls, MN passed away on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN with her loving daughter, Ruth at her side.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, April 17, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 6:00 PM prayer service on Sunday, April 16, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN.  Visitation will also be held from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM on Monday at Zion Lutheran Church.

Mary Ellen Dupree was born April 23, 1930 on a farm in Big Stone County, MN the daughter of Joseph and Florence (Parrow) Kaplor.  She attended country school and Tintah High School.

On June 5, 1947, Mary was united in marriage to Harold Jay Dupree in Campbell, MN and then made their home in Tintah, MN. They farmed in the area until 1954 and then moved to Thief River Falls, MN. To this union three children were born, David, Harold Jr., and Ruth.

Her first job while she was still in high school was keeping books at a rural grain elevator.  She was a stay at home mom while her children were growing up, just working a couple months in the fall at the Battleson Mink Farm pelting mink.  After her children left home she got a job at Tischart's Fabric Store, when Tischart's sold the business she went with the new owners to Hanson's Sewing Center until she retired in 1990.

Mary was a 4-H leader at Silverton 4-H, member of the Silverton Homemakers and taught Sunday School at Silverton Lutheran Church.  She served on the Lutheran Brotherhood Board in charge of ditch cleaning.  Mary was a very active member of Zion Lutheran Church, was Chairman of Anna Circle and co-chair of Syttende Mai supper.  She loved working at the fair in the agriculture department and earned many championships and awards in gardening and canning.

She enjoyed sewing, was a wonderful seamstress, always had a large garden, and kept a daily diary.  Mary was caring, loving and well-known in the community.  She loved her family and friends.  Mary always sent birthday cards and letters to her children, grandkids, and great-grandkids.  She also baked wonderful bread and cinnamon rolls.

Survivors include children, David (Judy) Dupree, Harold "Harry" (Sue) Dupree and Ruth (Ron) Ostby all of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren, Kurt (Ivy) Dupree, Kristy Dupree, Matthew (Sara) Dupree, Ryan (Lisa) Dupree, Rick (Ann) Ostby, Lisa (Mike) Heuer; great-grandchildren, Bren, Mackenzie, Jordyn, Kathryn, Ava, Ian, Evelyn, Nicholas, Alex, Ella, Lucy; sister-in-law, Pearl Anderson of Morris, MN; brothers-in-law, Charlie (LaVonne) Dupree of Breckenridge, MN and Harold Johnson of St. Paul, MN; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded by her husband, Harold on January 28, 2016; parents; and sister, Arlene Johnson.