Mary Tandberg, 88, died Monday, January 3, 2005, in the Palliative Care Unit of Meritcare Hospital in Fargo, ND.

Mary Charlotte Keogh was born on December 26, 1916, in Ramsey County, about 12 miles from Lawton, ND. She was the eldest child of Thomas Vincent Keogh and Hattie Marsh Keogh. The Keogh family moved to Fort Yates, ND, where her father ran a gas station. Mary graduated as Valedictorian from Standing Rock Community School in Fort Yates, ND in 1934, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English from the University of Minnesota in 1938.

Mary was teaching in Newfolden, MN, when she met Peter Tandberg. She and Pete were married on November 13, 1942. Mary and Pete raised wheat, potatoes, barley, oats, and four boys on a farm near Newfolden. Mary earned her Library Certificate from the University of North Dakota and resumed her career in education in 1967, serving as the high school librarian in Newfolden until 1978. In retirement, Mary and Pete found their ideal climate and community in Mesa, AZ. Peter Tandberg died in 1983. Mary continued to reside in Mesa until the fall of 2002 when she moved to the Linden Tree Circle wing of Eventide in Moorhead, MN.

Mary was an avid reader and had great curiosity about the natural world. Mary had a strong competitive streak, and played golf and bridge accordingly. At Eventide, when her golf and bridge skills were on the wane, she proudly displayed her cup of dimes as proof of her prowess in bingo. Mary relished her Irish heritage and passed her zest for all things Celtic to her family.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Peter, her parents, and her sisters Louise and Dolores.

Mary Tandberg is survived by her sons: Ralph, San Jose, CA, John (Jane), Moorhead, MN, Paul (Charlene), Newfolden, MN, and Gary (Bridget), Bloomington, MN; two brothers, Bernard M. Keogh, Boulder, CO, Curtis R. Keogh (Edith), San Antonio, TX, and a sister, Kathleen Carsten, Antioch, CA; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The Tandberg family wishes to extend special gratitude to Pam H. for the care Mary received at Eventide, and also to acknowledge the tender and caring sitters at Meritcare Hospital, and the kind competence of the nursing staff at the Palliative Care Center of Meritcare.

Memorials: The Tandberg family requests that memorials be designated for the Marshall County Central High School Library Fund.

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