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- [S927] Obituary.
HEBRON — Mary Lacney Schauer, 91, Hebron, quietly passed away June 16, 2012, at the Bismarck Baptist Home. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, June 22, at the First Baptist Church, Hebron.
She hit the ground running in Emporium, Pa., on Feb. 10, 1921. While often said, “Into each life a little rain must fall,” Mary’s early days brought mostly thunderstorms. She arrived to this world the fourth of five children born to poor immigrant parents. Not only immigrants, but also immigrants from different countries: her father, Andreas, came fro Poland, and her mother, Susie, from Czechoslovakia. Her parents could barely speak to each other and what communication they shared did not go well; her father abandoned the family in Mary’s fifth year.
Mary’s family existed as exceedingly poor, but bright and resourceful. Mary’s older brothers left school early to work in the coal mines. They hunted deer, sometimes even legally, to help feed the family. Mary and her sisters tended the cows, picked berries and worked hard to keep the place running. As a family, they managed to keep their farm through the Great Depression when millions of far more advantaged Americans lost their land.
In spite of growing up in desperate poverty and sustaining multiple childhood injuries, including a broken nose from a horse, Mary’s spirit remained strong. Early on, she developed a love of learning and a desire for self-improvement which she maintained throughout her life. She read everything she could find, including the dictionary at times. She listened to the radio in order to lose her rural Pennsylvania accent and later in life would admonish her children to “enunciate.” Mary even worried her personality came across as too gloomy, so while still in grade school she resolved to feel cheerful.
Mary left home at 14 to attend high school in Port Alleghany, Pa. She put herself through school working as a baby sitter and maid for room and board at the princely sum of 50 cents per month — little money even in 1935. Her love of learning, however, stood her well and she graduated as class valedictorian.
After graduation, she wanted a nursing career, but lacked the money to attend college. She went to business school in Buffalo, N.Y., instead, and worked at an insurance company during World War II. Always frugal, she saved her money and after receiving her brother John’s life insurance when he died at the Battle of the Bulge, enrolled at the University of Rochester School of Nursing in 1946. At U. of R. she would again excel academically, graduating as one of the top four honor students in her class.
While in nursing school, she met a dashing young man from North Dakota named Herbert Schauer, enrolled then at the North American Baptist Seminary in Rochester. They married in 1950 and headed west for a lifetime of serving the Lord together.
Mary and the Rev. Herbert Schauer started their ministry in Elmo, Kan., and the birthplace of their oldest son, Andrew. After moving to Turtle Lake two more children arrived, April and Austen. They then headed to the west coast, serving churches in Washington, Oregon and California, before returning to North Dakota. She and Herbert formally served the First Baptist Church of Hebron from 1957 to 1990 and continued to support the First Baptist Church for many years until Herbert’s death in 2009 and Mary’s move to Bismarck in 2011.
Survivors include one older sister, Helen Nordstrom, Port Allegany, Pa.; three sons, Andrew (Pamela), Topeka, Kan., Austen (Angela), Fargo, and Ashley (Jocelyn), Charlottesville, Va.; one daughter, April (Rodney) Zimmerman, Bismarck; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Mary possessed a unique sense of humor. Perhaps like many, laughter helped her cope with a difficult childhood. Mary decided to go back to school to further her education while living in Portland, Ore. These plans ended when well into her 40’s she got pregnant. She dropped out of school, giving birth to the youngest son, Ashley. Throughout her life — even into her 80’s — when asked about returning to school, she always responded, “No, I might get pregnant again.” Mary loved to laugh and especially enjoyed puns and word play, extending even to the naming of her daughter: “April Schauer.”
Her difficult early years made her pessimistic about life at times, but she always felt positive for other people. Mary loved her Lord, her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart. She listened more than talked and proved a most loyal friend. Mary inspired us to give more love than she received. We will miss her.
The family would like to thank the Bismarck Baptist Home for their brief but gracious support during Mary’s final days. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Mary Schauer to the First Baptist Church of Hebron, 221 West St. N., Hebron, N.D. 58638 or to IRIS: International Response to Improve Sight, 626 Berkmar Circle, Charlottesville, Va. 22901.
Copyright 2014 Bismarck Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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1921 - 2012 (91 years)