Mary Wherland

Mary Wherland

Mary Wherland, 96, Duluth, formerly of Hibbing, died Friday, November 25, 2016 at Essentia St. Mary’s in Duluth.  She was born in Leetonia Location to George and Mary (Gregorich) Mihelich on August 16, 1920, moved to a farm in the Maple Hill area of Hibbing and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1938.  On the farm Mary befriended a lamb who would try to board the school bus thus Mary was regaled with Mary had a little lamb. Mary worked as a Cashier/Bookkeeper for National Tea for 32 years.  After retirement she and Dwight her husband of 73 years enjoyed the Beauty Lake Cabin and traveling to Florida and Hawaii.  She enjoyed sewing, growing flowers, ceramics, painting her long fingernails, and shopping on QVC.  Mary loved jelly filled Bismarks and most of all her family.  She was active with AAUW at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Hibbing and was presently a member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing.

She is survived by her daughter, Janet (Gerald) Johnson; grandchildren; Dr. Sherri Johnson, Traci Eckholm, Dan Eckholm; Travis (Dr. Michele) Johnson, all of Duluth and Christopher (Jill Gunderson) Johnson, Esko, great- grandchildren Olivia Johnson, Jack Eckholm, and Owen Johnson of Duluth, siblings, Milan Mihelich, Bemidji, Florence Menard, Plymouth, MN, sisters-in-law; Patricia Capanoli and Marcella Aslakson, both of Hibbing.  She was preceded in death by her husband Dwight in 2015, brothers Rudolph and George Mihelich, sister, Anne Boldt, and her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial  will be held at Noon Tuesday, November 29, 2016 in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Gabriel Waweru as celebrant.  Visitation will be in Church Tuesday beginning at 11:00 am.  Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.  Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home.