Mary Delores "Dottie" Moe Christianson, 87, Halstad, MN, died peacefully January 11, 2018 at the Halstad Living Center, with family by her side.

Mary was born to Halvor and Esther (Boerger) Moe on November 25, 1930, in her grandparents' home in rural Ada, MN. She graduated from the Ada High School in 1948 and started working in various businesses in Ada, but often spoke of the time a young man by the name of Howard Christianson came into the "dime store" to buy school supplies before heading out of state to technical college. When he returned on Christmas break, they had their first date. Howard and Mary were wed on June 26, 1957, at Good Shephard Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN. They made their home on their farm in rural Halstad, MN, for the remainder of their married lives. Mary moved off the farm to the Heritage House in Halstad due to health concerns. Later, she moved to Sanford Hillsboro Care Center in Hillsboro, ND, and finally "back home" to Halstad Living Center.

Howard and Mary raised four children together. During that time, Mary periodically worked other places, including the hardware store in Halstad, the Crystal Sugar Midway sugar beet piler weigh station, and sold Avon products. She loved the social aspect of work. When the children were almost grown, Mary returned to retail life in Ada, buying the Ada Fashion Shoppe which she operated for nine years before retirement. She had great energy, rarely able to sit if there was work to be done. Her primary vocations were that of farming partner, wife, and mother. Not only feeding her farming family and tending their home, but working ground, filling grain drills, greasing equipment, driving and unloading grain trucks, and never going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink.

Mary loved to entertain, hosting family dinners and card parties most weekends during the winter. Visitors were treated to either a full meal or a "little lunch". Absolutely nothing made her happier than a visit from family or friends. Howard and Mary were active members of the Halstad Lutheran Church in Halstad. Mary served as a Sunday school teacher and Ladies' Aide (WELCA) president. Mary was a charter member of the Town and Country Study Club of Halstad. She was an avid bowler, a talented seamstress, and had such a green thumb that many of her plants lasted decades.

Mary and Howard loved traveling, covering most of North America and many western European countries. When older, they began traveling to Arizona for winter months, eventually buying a second home in Mesa. They made new friends and rekindled old friendships during their time in Mesa. Especially notable were the late Chester Trom and his wife, Roberta.

Mary adored her children and grandchildren and frequently talked about her love for and pride in them. When asked if she had advice for them, she simply said "just be a good person".

Mary is survived by her children Thomas (Diane) Christianson, Princeton, IL, Jill (Jon) Carlson, Climax, MN, and Beth (Doug) Christianson-Melby, Hillsboro, ND; her grandchildren Erika Christianson, Bon Agua, TN, Justin Christianson, Carterville, IL, Evan Carlson, Minneapolis, MN, and Claire Carlson, Crookston, MN; siblings Harold Moe, Sherman (Lynn) Moe, VelDonna (Darrell) Leiser, Jeanie (Stanley) Rasmussen, many special nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Mark Christianson, sister and brother-in-law Wilma and Clayton Ambuehl, brother Marwood Moe, sisters- and brothers-in-law Sharon Moe, Beatrice Trom, Roy and Dorothy Christianson, Donald "Buddy" and Phyllis Christianson, Irene Christianson, Marvin and Donna Christianson, niece Sharon Hunt, nephews Roger, Lyle, and Marvin, Jr. Christianson, and David Trom.

Funeral: 2:00PM, Saturday, January 20, 2018, at Halstad Lutheran Church, Halstad, MN.

Visitation: Friday 4:00PM to 6:00PM with a 6:00PM prayer service at Halstad Living Center and Saturday for one hour before the funeral at the church.

Burial: Halstad South Cemetery, Halstad, MN.