Mary Lou Lesar

Mary Lou Lesar, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, bridge aficionado and avid sports fan passed away in her home on Wednesday, September 25th after a dignified stand against pancreatic cancer. She was 83.
Mary, one of nine siblings, was born on July 26th, 1930 to Ruth and Lawrence Kramer in Litchfield, Minn. She graduated from Litchfield High School where she participated in music, the school newspaper, and speech and debate. After she graduated, she earned her X-Ray technician's license. With the help of her aunt and uncle she relocated to Great Falls, Montana. There she met a young orderly from Slovenia, Yugoslavia named Joe Lesar. The two got married on August 24th, 1953 in Litchfield. The couple moved to Missoula where they lived in married student housing (the strip houses) before moving up the Rattlesnake into the home where Mary lived for the rest of her life. Mary worked at Northern Pacific/Missoula General Hospital, then later at Garden City X-Ray until she retired. Mary enjoyed a lifelong passion of competitive bridge, earning the title of Silver Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League. An enthusiastic sports fan, Mary closely followed the Minnesota Twins and Vikings and was a Lady Griz Basketball season ticket holder. Above all, she loved the athletic and artistic endeavors of her children and grandchildren. Throughout her life, Mary welcomed and accepted many, as evidenced by the continuous flow of cards, letters and phone calls she received during the course of her illness. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, Brian and her three brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Rudy. She is survived by her sons, Joe of Reno, Nev. and Greg of Renton, Wash.; her daughter Kay of Selah, Wash.; her brother Paul of Missoula; her sisters Eunice of Minneapolis, Pat of Palm Coast, Fla., Alice of Irvine, Calif., and Judy of St. Paul; her grandchildren Melissa of Olive Branch, Miss., Mikal of Selah, Wash., Jessie and Joe K. of Missoula, Joe J. of Colorado Springs, Alex of Renton, Wash.; and her great-grandchildren Autumn of Olive Branch, Miss., and Piper and Lennox of Selah, Wash.
Viewing will be at Garden City Funeral Home on Sunday evening, Sept. 29, 2013 from 5-7pm, with a Vigil Service to follow at 7pm. A Funeral Mass will be Monday morning, Sept. 30, at 10:30am at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with a reception to follow in Reidy Hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Mary's name to the Missoula Humane Society or the Poverello Center.


Read Mary Lesar's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.