Mary Jo Lofgren
Mary Jo Lofgren, 91, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2023 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma surrounded by her loving family.
Mary Josephine (Duffy) Lofgren was born April 3, 1932 at the home of her maternal grandparents in Pierre, South Dakota. Her parents were Joseph F. Duffy and Marion (“Mary”) (Nelson) Duffy Aasen. Mary Jo spent the majority of her childhood years in the Pierre/Ft. Pierre area. For her senior year in high school, Mary Jo attended Mount St. Scholastica Catholic School in Atchison, Kansas where she graduated in 1950. Her aspiration to become a nun was quashed when her school girl shenanigans were discovered and she was advised to go home and find a husband. Mary Jo returned to South Dakota and on June 11, 1951, she married Dale W. Lofgren in Pierre, South Dakota. To this union, four children were born: Lynn, Lois, William (Bill), and Brian.
On October 16, 1969, Dale passed away at the young age of 38. Shortly after Dale’s death, Mary Jo decided to escape the brutal South Dakota winters and move her family south to tornado alley. She selected the small town of Seminole, Oklahoma. It was there that Mary Jo’s resilience and strong work ethic made a lasting impression on her children. She succeeded in raising her children as a single parent with limited financial resources and an abundance of love. On October 13, 1985, Mary Jo married Robert (Bob) Vorndran in Seminole, Oklahoma. Bob passed away on December 3, 1989. Mary Jo continued to reside in Seminole until 2017 when she relocated to Oklahoma City to be closer to family.
Mary Jo was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was also a very active community volunteer. When her daughters were in grade school, Mary Jo was instrumental in organizing the first Girl Scout troops in Ft. Pierre. Later in her life, Mary Jo enjoyed being a “Pink Lady” at the local hospital, a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi, and serving as a poll worker for local and national elections. Those who knew her could always count on a place at the dinner table any time, and a good laugh often sparked by her wry sense of humor.
Preceding Mary Jo in death were her parents, her husbands, and her extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all had a role in her upbringing. She is survived by her four children: Lynn Kinard and her husband Rod of Duncanville, TX; Lois Marshall of Sioux Falls, SD; Bill Lofgren and his wife Vickie of Oklahoma City, OK, and Brian Lofgren and his wife Monique of Keller, TX; her 11 grandchildren: Courtney Carr and her husband Brett of Dripping Springs, TX; Travis Kinard and his wife Theresa of Phoenix, AZ; Megan Baldridge and her husband Luke Hunhoff of Sioux Falls, SD; Katy Kinard and her husband Randall of Oklahoma City, OK; Clint Kinard and his wife Katie of Duncanville, TX; Tyler Lofgren of Oklahoma City, OK; Hannah Kinard of Edmond, OK; Tara Lofgren of Oklahoma City, OK; Amie Kinard of Phoenix, AZ; Zoe Lofgren and Emma Lofgren of Keller, TX; and her 13 great grandchildren: Rylan, Adley, and Cavan Carr; Lincoln, Quin, Ellie, Dashiell, and Ronin Kinard; Nevaeh, Lyla, Trystan, and Luke Kinard; and Leo Rotelli. She is also survived by her lifelong best friend of nearly 80 years, Guinever (Guy) Terbell McBride of Bloomfield, NE.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on May 3, 2023 at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2706 S. Shartel Avenue in Oklahoma City.
Graveside rites will be held in early July at Scotty Philips Cemetery in Fort Pierre, South Dakota.