Mary L Bjornstad

Mary Louise Bjornstad (nee Widger) died peacefully … on May 2, 2026 in Surprise, AZ at the age of 97. Mary was born on January 29, 1929, in Seattle, Washington to Mary and Leslie Widger. She grew up with her mom and stepdad, Thomas Milton Redick. As "Milt" was a shingle sawyer, Mary grew up in and around a lot of lumber mill towns along the Washington and Oregon coasts. She also lived off and on with her grandparents, John and Mary Weaver, in the Ballard section of Seattle.

It was in Ballard that she met her future husband, Bill Bjornstad, who was – at the time –working as an ice delivery man. They married in 1947 and moved for a time to Los Angeles, CA where she gave birth to their two sons, Russ and Steve. Shortly after Steve was born, they decided that LA was not for them and moved back to the Northwest, where she and Bill raised their family. Mary was happy being a mom and housewife for many years until her boys where in junior high school. Over the years, she took on a number of jobs. Her favorites were as Office Manager for the L.B. Yount food brokerage company and – ultimately – marketing manager for Continental Mills (i.e., Krusteaz) in Tukwila, Washington.

Following retirement, Mary and Bill built a beautiful house in Rogue River, Oregon but eventually became snowbirds – trying out Borrego Springs, CA and Yuma, AZ before finally settling into Sun City Grand, AZ. Bill passed in 2009 and Mary eventually moved and shared a home with her son, Steve and wife, Lynne, in Surprise. The three of them had over 11 years of great adventures together – ranging from exploring Great Britain to packing school breakfasts and lunches at St. Mary's Food Bank in the early morning hours. The last few years of her life, Russ and his wife Emma moved close by and Mary's joy was complete.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Russ and Steve, and their wives Emma and Lynne, as well as 7 grandchildren and innumerable great-grand (and even great-great grand) children.

No memorial service will be held; however, donations may be made in Mary's name to St. Mary's (St. Mary’s Food Bank of Arizona: Help Feed the Hungry).