Mary Elizabeth Atkinson Klein died following a short illness, at Arbor’s East Subacute and Rehabilitation Center November 7, 2001. She was 85 years old.
A memorial service was held at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Bristol. South Dakota on December 16 at 2 p.m.
Mary Elizabeth Atkinson was born August 15, 1916 in Willmar, Minnesota to James and Lula Atkinson. The family moved to Day County when she was around 2 years old. She graduated from Bristol High School and received her certificate of nursing from Peabody School of Nursing, Webster, South Dakota, June 3, 1938.
She married Bernhardt (Barney) Klein April 2, 1941 in Newcastle, Wyoming. In 1950 the family moved to a farm northeast of Bristol, South Dakota, where they lived for 17 years. In 1987 they moved into Bristol where she and her husband served as co-administrators of the newly erected Sun Dial Manor Nursing Home. She was Director of Nursing Services from June 1, 1968 until her retirement in the fall of 1981.
In 1983 she moved to Bemidji, Minnesota and in 1995 to Columbus, Ohio to live with her son, James, and family. She made friends quickly and was involved in church and community activities.
Her parents, an infant sister, Naomi, and her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include one sister, Thera Bury, Bristol, her son, James, Columbus, Ohio and two grandsons.
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