Mary Lou Borst

Mary Lou Borst, 94, of Duluth, MN, died peacefully on October 5^th, at Solvay Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family.  She is now in the light of her Savior.

Mary was born on June 8th, 1929, in Duluth, to Jule and Olive (King) Shaw.  She was the youngest daughter of 12 children. 

Mary was a loving wife and mother.  She met the world with kindness and patience.  Mary’s first job was at Mando Photo in downtown Duluth, developing pictures.  Later, she was the head cook at Viewcrest Nursing Home, in Piedmont Heights, for 17 years.  Mary had an amazing sense of interior design and she made her home a warm, welcome, and beautiful place for all to gather.  She was an extremely talented baker who delighted her family and friends with amazing Christmas candies, pies, bars, cookies, and cakes.     

In April, 1978, Mary wed Theodore Borst, a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel.  They were devotedly and happily married until Ted’s passing in 2007.  Together they traveled the country with trailer in tow.  They loved gardening and remodeling their home and welcomed their ever-growing family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mary will be deeply missed by her loving family and all who knew her.

Mary is survived by her loving children, Kenneth (Dianne) Johnson, Susan (Mark) Erickson, Timothy (Brenda) Johnson, Pamela Lempi, Jodie (Michael) Kenney; her grandchildren, Nicole (James), Thomas, Jessica, Matthew (Jing), Steven (Jill), Autumn (Jonathan), James, Holly (Trent), Michael (Samantha), Nathan (Deanna), Katie (Paavo), Emma, Michael, Ava, and Theodore; her great-grandchildren, Rease, Piper, Mallory, Axel, Mateo, Hannah, Brayden, Konrad, Lucy, Isabella, Leah, Annabelle, Bree, Luca, Leo, Olivia, and Christian; her great-great-grandchild, to be born Christmas day; and her brother, Duane Shaw.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings, Jule Shaw Jr., George Shaw, Howard Shaw, Thomas Shaw, Harold Shaw, Allen Shaw, Lucille Anstett, Ruby Tafs, Dorothy Machard, Shirley Jones, and Betty Lou Shanoff; and her son-in-law,Dr. Richard Lempi.  

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 12, at 11:00 a.m. at Peace in Christ Lutheran Church, 5007 Maple Grove Road, Hermantown, MN 55811.  Burial at Oneota Cemetery.

Mary’s family would like to thank the Solvay Hospice House for their excellent care.  Memorials will be directed to Solvay Hospice House of Duluth.