Mary Ruth Williamson

Mary was born to Ruth (Brown) and Alvin Dickman on September 12, 1928, in Rochester, MN. Mary graduated from high school in St. Cloud, MN, attended St. Benedict’s College, and graduated from Iowa State College in 1951, with a degree in Home Economics. She taught Home Economics at Fairfield High School, Fairfield, Iowa. Mary married Buel Williamson on April 21, 1951, and they have a daughter, Carol, of Dayton, Ohio.

Mary’s activities included working with handicapped children, playing in numerous bridge clubs with dear friends for many years, and a 50-year membership in Altar Guild at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, she was a member of Catfish Jazz Society and Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society. Mary never missed the Bix Jazz Festival! Mary loved music but couldn’t sing or play a note. Mary and Buel loved to dance and belonged to local dance clubs. Mary was the ultimate caregiver over the years for her mother, her mother-in-law and her husband.

Mary is survived by daughter Carol, nieces Mary (Tom) O’Malley, Ann Ploeger, nephew Karl (Betsy) Dickman, and special cousins Mary Hofstad and Peg (Bob) Wall. Mary is also survived by daughters by grace - Robin, Katrina, Kristi, and Tina. Her family would also like to recognize the wonderful neighbors who looked out for her welfare and were good friends - Mike and Penny, John, Linda and Joe, Dawn and Tom, and Mike and Linda. The family is grateful for the care Mary received from the staff at the Quartet and Clarissa Cook Hospice.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, husband Buel, brother Charles, niece Janie,and daughter by grace Sari.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral,with visitation one hour prior to service. Inurnment will occur after the service in the columbarium at the Cathedral. A reception will follow in the Great Hall of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Catfish Jazz Scholarship Fund, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral or Clarissa Cook Hospice.

Rest in peace, Mom. You were the wind beneath my wings.