Mary Jean (Simonsen) Stevens, 77, of Amery, Wisconsin, passed away on February 11, 2024, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mary was born in Frederic, WI to Ralph and Wilma (Fenner) Simonsen on August 17, 1946. She attended Midway and Wood River elementary schools and Grantsburg High School, graduating in 1964. She then studied at Stout State University in Menomonie, WI, graduating in 1968. Mary taught high school home economics in Black River Falls, WI, where she met Keith Stevens. During her tenure at Black River, she was especially proud to include in her curriculum a course called Bachelor Know-How. Mary and Keith were married in 1971 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. The couple lived in Black River Falls where sons Marty and Dan were born and moved to Prescott, WI, in 1978 where son Jeff was born. They moved to Amery in 1987.

Mary stayed home while her sons were young, then embarked on a distinguished career as a Research Nutritionist at the University of Minnesota. As manager of the Service Center at the University's Nutrition Coordinating Center, Mary was well known and respected throughout the nutrition research community. She retired in 2011. Mary was active for many years at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Amery as a member of the Women of the ELCA, the quilting group, and church council.

Mary was a voracious reader who loved to cook and spent hours tending her beautiful gardens. Mary also loved to travel. She visited all 50 states, most of the Canadian provinces, and several countries in Europe, Central America, and South America. Mary came from a large, close-knit family and she loved spending time with them. Nothing made her happier than cooking dinner with her sons, and then enjoying the meal with them, their families, and Keith on a summer evening on the deck outside the family home. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Mary is survived by her husband of 52 years, Keith; sons Marty (Lori Christopherson) of Louisville, CO, Dan (Tara Schlick) of Madison, WI, and Jeff (Kerry Highbarger) of Rochester Hills, MI; siblings Denis Simonsen (Liz Hakseth), Elaine Grossman (Bob), Carole Rieg (Dick) and Gayle Grundtner (Dick); brother-in-law Allen Stevens (Deb Schroeder) and sister-in-law Julie Chell (Jeff); grandchildren Gretta, Eli, Caroline, Ben, Maren, Anna, Sloan and Josh; and many nieces and nephews and their children.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers David and Alan Simonsen and her nephews Mark Stevens and Sgt. Andy Stevens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Amery, WI; St. Croix Festival Theater in St. Croix Falls, WI; or the Amery Food Pantry in Amery, WI.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Amery, WI. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. A lunch will follow the funeral service. A private family burial will take place in Amery Cemetery.