Mary Ellen Bardwell

About Mary

Mary Ellen Bardwell, 75, of Clearbrook, Minnesota on Friday, July 28, 2023, at her residence near Clearbrook, Minnesota.

Mary was born on June 27, 1948, at Cottonwood, Arizona, the daughter of Jack and Zella Gill. As a child, Mary traveled the world from base to base, to several places when her dad was in the Air Force. In the summertime, she spent time with her relatives in California. While in California, she worked at a candy factory in Los Angeles.

When she was on an Air Force base in Omaha, she met Wayne Bardwell. They were married on August 16, 1969, in Clearbrook, Minnesota. The couple were blessed with two children, Jeff and Patty. They lived in Lake City for a while and then moved to Clearbrook area and Wayne worked road construction.

In 1979, the couple bought a plane and did crop spraying. In 1990, Mary and Wayne started dabbling in breeding Ostriches. At one time, they had a herd of over 100 birds. They also got their hands into Potbellied Pigs.

In 2000, they got out of the breeding business and Wayne went over the road trucking, which Mary joined him, spending winters south. After retirement, they went full time in their motorhome, spending summers in Clearbrook and winters in Arizona.

Mary was famous for making homemade buns which everyone loved. She was also notorious for her Lefse and cheesecake. She would always have goodies around for anyone who came to visit.

Mary enjoyed sewing, quilting, baking, canning and animals. She loved fishing, especially ice fishing. They would often spend weekends on the ice and even would take their plane out on the ice and make make- shift tents off the wing of the plane.

Mary was well-known for her infectious laugh, that made everyone smile. Mary didn’t have an enemy in the world and was everyone’s friend.

Mary is survived by her husband – Wayne Bardwell of Clearbrook, Minnesota

Daughter – Patty (Erik) Erdahl of Warren, Minnesota

Grandchildren – Austin (Megan) Erdahl of Bemidji, Minnesota; Dallas Erdahl of Warren, Minnesota; Madison Bardwell of Missoula, Montana; and Allyson Lund of Missoula, Montana

Daughter-in-law Heidi Bardwell is Missoula, Montana and her aunt – Eleanor Vega of California.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her son – Jeff Bardwell; Her in-law’s – Russell and Ruby Bardwell; and her brother – Melvin Summers.

memorial service

Services for Mary

August 2, 2023

Cease Family Funeral Home 407 Getchell Ave NE, Bagley, MN 56621, USA

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Elim Lutheran Cemetery near Clearbrook, Minnesota at a later date.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home