Mary Lou Chromy, age 77, of Waubun, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND.

Mary Lou Ahles, the daughter of Lewey and Marie (Belsvick) Ahles, was born on October 18, 1939, in White Earth, MN. She grew up in Waubun and graduated high school with the class of 1957. Later that same summer, on August 17, 1957, Mary Lou was united in marriage to Benny Chromy. The couple spent most of their life in the Waubun area. She was a devoted housewife and mother to their seven children. Mary Lou was an avid gardener and canned her produce each season. Her family especially enjoyed her salsa, jams and jellies. She also enjoyed fishing and camping with family, especially in her younger years. Later in life, yearly trips to Rainbow Resort and annual outings with family became treasurable times. She also spent hours crafting, quilting and crocheting. In 1981, Benny and Mary Lou moved to Snyder Lake where they lived together until his death in 1987. Mary Lou continued to make that her home until 2006 when she moved to Callaway to be near her daughters. Mary Lou loved to watch the birds and always took special care to feed them, even baking them homemade suet for a treat. Mary Lou enjoyed playing cards and was always ready for a good game with family and friends. Her family was the most important thing in her life, she cherished each of her children and grandchildren and the time she spent with them. Mary Lou was a member of the Foresters in St. Ann's Catholic Church of Waubun for many years. She passed away peacefully on her 77th birthday with the love of her family surrounding her.

Mary Lou is survived by one son, Jeff of Milwaukee, WI; six daughters: Renee (Allan) Krebsbach of Waubun, Debra (John) Nelson of Bismarck, ND; Diane Chromy of Callaway, MN, Barbara Chromy of Callaway, MN, Kathy (Steve) Gray of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Sue Chromy of Callaway; and her grandchildren: Nick and Andy Krebsbach, Joshua and John Nelson, Steven Coalwell, Dionne Chromy, Brooke and Megan Chromy, Abby Gray and Amber DeGroat. Mary Lou is also survived by her siblings, David (Violet) of Rockford, MN, and Tony (Colleen) of Waubun and half-sister, Jeanne (Terry) Teiken and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Benny; one sister and brother-in-law, Ruth (Hal) Miller; one brother, John; and her stepfather, Bernard Martin.