Mary Alice Lohnes

Burial for Mary will be on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. 

Mary A. Lohnes, 55 of St. Michael ND passed away on Sunday morning, February 13, 2022 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake ND. A Wake and Prayer Service will be held at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael ND on Thursday, February 17^th beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of sharing and prayer at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, February 18^th at 10:00 a.m. in St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Reverend Paul Schuster celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Jerome’s Cemetery at a later date. The procession to St. Michael will leave at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday from City Plaza, Devils Lake.

Mary Alice Lohnes was born to Tony and Vina (Wells) McDonald on May 28^th, 1966, in Garrison, ND. She was 5^th of 10 children. Mary attended White Shield school until the family moved to Spirit Lake Nation in 1972. Mary continued her education, graduating from Fort Totten Public School in 1984 and graduated from Cankdeska Cikana Community College with an AA degree.

Raised in a home with prayer and faith Mary was baptized, confirmed and married in the Catholic Church. Mary was always very helpful with her sisters and their children. She even moved to Japan with sister Molly, who was in the Navy, to help take care of her babies.

Mary met Ron Lohnes in March of 1990, they were together for 4 years and on September 24^th, 1994, they exchanged vows and were married at Saint Michael Catholic Church. Mary & Ron started their family with Dana, Ethan & Stuart. As the years progressed Shana, Tony, James & Sky Bell joined the Lohnes Household. Many who came through made the comment that their house was full of love and always felt like home. Mary became a mother to many people including some famous actors such as Michael & Eddie Spears and even Adam Beach. Mary was proud of all members of her family, even if it was something as simple as getting a job or graduating from school, she was always happy to see someone bettering their life. Mary worked corrections for BIA for 16 years at the Fort Totten PD where she was held in high regard for the love and care she displayed towards anyone that was incarcerated.  Mary had an incredible gift of seeing only the best in everyone and not allowing outside judgment to sway her opinion of people and she had the ability to change someone’s life with just one conversation.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2016, Mary & Ron made a hundred or more trips to Minneapolis over the last few years to attend her appointments, treatments and surgeries. Many of these trips wouldn’t be possible without the support of Spirit Lake Tribal Health, MHA Nation & many generous donors.  Mary walked into her first round of chemotherapy with a smile and the utmost hope that she would beat the cancer. Unfortunately, there was another cancerous mass growing which led to her second round of chemotherapy. Mary jumped right back in the fight and started her second round of chemotherapy as soon as she was able to but sadly the radiation got the best of her. Mary was very weak and tired in her final months. Every day was a battle, but she never lost hope even in her final moments.

Mary took her last breath at 4:30 AM at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake. Mary was a warrior because she faced all challenges head on and never complained. She never begged, she never held grudges and even in her toughest time she never asked why because her faith was so strong. She will be missed by many and will forever be in our hearts. The list of relatives & friends can go on for days, Mary had so much love for her parents Tony & Vina McDonald, sisters Antonette (Swadeau), Molly, Franny, Ardell, Myra, Evie, Nola, Tanya, FeeFee, Sister Nancy. Brothers Leander (Russ), Alvin, Justin, Mervel, Mike, Neal, Elliot & Darren. If you knew Mary you’d know she loved you and would never forget about you. Her Dakota name was Beautiful Flower Woman and there is not a name more fitting for such a beautiful soul. Mary is greeted in death by her beloved mother Vina, brother Mike and grandson Gabriel Lohnes along with many other relatives whom she loved and missed very much.

Pallbearers

Pierre Prettyweasel, John Posey Jr., Glen (Wylee) Belgarde III, Sky Bell, Wyatt Jetty, Ryan Brown, Coulee Luger, and Andrew Vollmer.

Honorary Pallbearers

Elliot & Shelly Ward, Onna Littleghost, Jr. Fox & Family, Collette Brown & Family, Spirit Lake Ambulance Crew, Loren Larson,  Adeline Blueshield, Leah Wanataan, Paige Dauphinais Peter Dauphinais, Adam Beach, Anita Aabrekke, Christy Goulet, Ian Von Brendel, Kali K.O. Reis, Sharene Putnam, Jake Arapahoe, Denise Youngbird, Dion Peterson, LaToya CrazyBull, Tanya Nieblas, Natalie Wells, Heather McKay, Wanda Trottier, Jackie McDonald, Anita McDonald, Donna White, Doris Packineau, Pauline White Bear, Eugene & Marcella White Bear Family, Four Winds Class of 1984, Michelle Thomas & Family, Gloria Redroad & Family, Mary Lynn Wells, All Sundance & Ceremony Family, John Buckley, Michael & Eddie Spears, Jesse McKay III, Tracy Charboneau Chase, All of Mary’s adopted sons & daughters, Loren & Dorothy Henry

Mary’s Michigan Relatives.

Special Thank You To Nurses & Doctors at Mercy Hospital, MHA Nation Grants & Donations Department, Spirit Lake Tribal Health Department.