Mary Alice Walior

Mary Walior, age 93, passed away surrounded by her family on May 22, 2026, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Mary was born on August 28, 1932, in Caribou, Minnesota, to Alex and Rose (Karol) Prady. She was the second of eight children in a close-knit family of seven girls and one boy. Her early years were spent on the family farm before the family moved to Lake Bronson, Minnesota, and later to Crookston, where she graduated from Central High School in 1950.

Following graduation, Mary attended the East Grand Forks Normal Teacher’s Training Course and earned her teaching certificate. She taught grades one through eight in a rural school near Crookston for two years before moving to Grand Forks, where she worked for Buttreys and later for American Crystal Sugar.

On January 15, 1956, Mary married Donald Walior in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Together they built a life and raised four children.

Mary devoted many years to caring for her family before returning to work at Miller’s Fairway grocery store and later at KILO Radio in downtown Grand Forks. She continued working in radio broadcasting after KILO became part of Ingstad Broadcasting and was renamed to KKXL. She retired in the early 1990s.

In retirement, Mary devoted herself to the things she loved most: gardening, reading, and staying informed about the world around her. She was an active member of the Grand Forks Horticultural Society in its early years and spent countless hours planning gardens, searching nursery catalogs, and tending to her flowers and plants. Her gardens were featured on the Grand Forks Garden Tour. Family members fondly remember the UPS truck arriving each spring with boxes of perennials waiting to be planted.

Mary moved into assisted living at Wheatland Terrace at Valley Senior Living on 42nd in October of 2024. Although she missed her longtime home, her friends continued to visit often, and she made many new friends there.

Mary was also an avid lifelong reader with shelves overflowing with books. She loved thoughtful conversation, especially about current events, and always enjoyed learning something new.

More than anything, Mary will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose quiet strength, curiosity, and love for family shaped the lives of those around her.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Walior; her parents, Alex and Rose Prady; her brother, Russell Prady; sisters Susan Swenson, Doris Hanson, Irene Usselman, Ruth Walior, and Grace Bergevin; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by her children, Don Walior, Bill (Teresa) Walior, Nancy (Daniel) Palm, and Susie Walior (Lisa Sinjem); grandchildren Eric Palm (Kayla Evenson), Alyssa (Casey) Palm-Schoeneberg, and Alex Walior; great-grandson Brock Schoeneberg; sister Rosie (Dale) Rhode; sisters-in-law Joyce Link and Lois Stigen; brothers-in-law Howard Walior and Glenn Walior; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A private family interment, as requested by Mary, will be held at Calvary under the care of Amundson Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the staff at Wheatland Terrace, Altru Hospital, and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their kindness and compassionate care.

Mary found joy in simple things: books, flowers, visits with friends and family, and a well-tended garden. She will be deeply missed.