Mary Jane Holsten was born at home on February 1, 1924 in rural Amery, Wisconsin the daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Blowers) Johnson. She was the first of 10 children. She was Baptized and Confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. She attended Apple River Park school through the eighth grade then went to Amery High School where she graduated in 1941. She worked at the Cumberland Hotel until being married to Clarence Huebner in 1942 and to this union five children were born. Clarence was drafted to serve in the military. When Joanne was six weeks old Mary Jane took her on the train to Washington where Clarence was stationed at Geiger Field. After Clarence was discharged from the service the other four children were born. Clarence passed away in 1956. Mary Jane had worked at the New Richmond canning factory and then for an envelope manufacturing company in Stillwater. She later was employed at Fabri-tek in Amery, one of its first employees. In 1960 she was married to Kenneth Bilyou and they had one son Jon. Mary Jane was a longtime member of Little Falls Lutheran Church and served as president of Ladies Aid and was active in their quilting. On July 16, 1966 she was united in marriage to Grant Holsten and they made their home in rural Amery operating a dairy farm. She served on the Board of the Amery Senior Center and also worked for the Apple River Township elections board. She always enjoyed flowers and growing them. She was also an avid bird watcher. When she was 90 years old she moved to Golden Age Manor where she passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at the age of 91 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clarence Huebner and husband Grant Holsten, brother Elwin Johnson, sisters: Erma Brist and Berdean Bottolfson, son Clarence Harvey Huebner, grandson Paul Thomas Bird. Surviving family members include: daughters: Joanne (Jim) Fowler, Delores Barr, Mary Darlene Huebner, Rose (Kip)Schroeder; son Jon Bilyou; 12 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 3 step-great grandchildren; siblings: Bob Johnson, Betty McKinney, Theodora Green, Ben Johnson, Dell Johnson, and Nick Johnson as well as other relatives and friends.


Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Little Falls Lutheran Church in rural Amery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and for the hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Little Falls Cemetery.