Dr. Mary McIlvaine Dybvig - Skoe, PhD

About Mary

Dr. Mary McIlvaine Dybvig - Skoe, PhD, 86, of Northome, MN formerly of St. Paul, MN died underhospice care surrounded by her family on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at her home in Ardenhurst Township, MN.

Mary was born shortly after her twin brother John in Chicago, Il on Feb 23, 1936. In her almost 87 years, Mary lived many chapters. She grew up in the Philadelphia area and graduated from Radcliffe College. Shortly thereafter, she married and had a daughter Kimberly Tyl.

Her marriage to Kimberly’s father took her to Germany where Mary taught English. Her return to the US brought her to MN where she worked for the St. Paul Public schools. In 1992, She earned her doctorate in school of psychology at the U of M.

She excelled as a school psychologist and later became the principal at Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School. In 2001, she retired as principal from Como Park Elementary school.

Her professional life as an educator spanned over 59 years as she continued to consult as a school psychologist even after retiring. She was a leader and mentor to many.

Mary was modest of her many accomplishments including commissioning a playground at Como Park Elementary school that was catered and designed for kids with special needs.

In 1977, the Dybvig family entered her life. Her many adventures included camping with tent trailer on the MN north shore, boating on Lake Superior, traveling the rivers by houseboat and enjoying road trips with an RV. She enjoyed summers in the Pacific Northwest Bellingham, WA area.

In 2002, Mary married Melvin Sward and was sadly widowed after 5 years. Together, she and Mel packed a lot into those 5 years. They made numerous trips to Algoma, WI to visit her uncle Ken and enjoy the Algoma area. She continued to love her children through the Dybvig and Sward marriages as her own.

Her capacity to love and desire to share in relationship brought her to meet Ralph Skoe who she married in 2009. This marriage brought her to Northome where she acquired additional family whom she loved dearly.

Mary joined Ralph on several mission trips to Latvia, the Czech Republic and Cameroon in Africa. Together, they were involved in bible study, prayer group, ministry at the Blackduck nursing home, school release time and other community events in the Northome area. She was also a huge Gopher fan and attended several bowl games in recent years.

Mary greeted life’s challenges with an open heart and always a smile. She taught us how to be rooted in love when navigating through difficult times and relied heavily on her faith to rise through them. She was a survivor of breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Amazingly, Mary never complained about Parkinson’s disease or bone fractures.

She is an inspiration to so many who loved her on how to navigate life’s hurdles, how to seek opportunity in adversity, and to listen and love without judgement.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Mildred and John, twin brother John, younger brother David, older sisters Margaret ‘Peggy’, Catherine ‘Cissy’ and Allen ‘Allie’, and her late husband Melvin.

Mary is survived by her husband Ralph Skoe, daughter Kimberly Tyl (Mike Amundson), Alyssa Dybvig (Ron Quanbeck), Mary Eide (Jon Eide), Natalie Nutting, Mark Sward (Margaret), Carole Sheridan (Stephen), Paul Sward, Amy Olson (David), Ann Skoe (François Fouquerel), Erika Skoe (Doug Savitsky) and grandchildren: Erica and Hailey Quanbeck, Margaret and Henry Rollings, Ian Sward, Sarah Fisher (Derek), Rochelle Sward, Marie and Yasmine Olson, Louise, Zachary and Arnaud Fouquerel-Skoe, and five great grand-children: Hans and Quinn Fisher, Anders, Isaac and Trygg Sward. She also has an extended McIlvaine clan of nieces and nephews who will all miss her dearly.

memorial service

Memorial Services for Mary

February 18, 2023

Pastor Luke Berntson will be officiating. Interment will be in Ardenhurst Cemetery at a later date. To view the service, please go to www.youtube.com search for: Hope Bethesda, then you will see a list of services. Click on: Funeral services for Mary Dybvig. The link will be available shortly before the service begins.

Also: Please join us to celebrate Mary’s life at Como Park, St. Paul, MN on Sunday, June 4, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. It will be held at Como Park Picnic Shelter, near Hamline Ave. (Lexington, turn West on Horton, turn North on Midway Pkwy, picnic shelter will be on the right) Stop by any time, please bring a foldable chair should extra seating be needed.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home