Mary Louise Rysdam

Mary Louise Rysdam, 65, of Elgin, died May 24 at her home. At her request there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life potluck will be held in June, with the time and place to be announced at a later date.

Mary Louise was born Aug. 10, 1943, to Arie Robert and Marguerite (Jenkins) Rysdam in Merced, Calif. On Dec. 7, 1963, she married Donald Franklin Alford in Carson City, Nev. That marriage ended and she moved to Elgin in 1980, then to Alaska in 1983, and back to Elgin in 1989. She was an active member of the Eagles, and greatly enjoyed spending time working in her yard - that was her therapy.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and held a special bond with her grandsons. Her family was always very impressed with her strength and courage as she fought her battle with cancer.

She is survived by her father, Arie Robert Rysdam of Elgin; children, Robert and his wife, Sheila Alford, of Taylor, Texas, and Sandra and her husband, Larry McIntosh, of Rockdale, Texas; brother, Arie Lee Rysdam of Clatskanie; sister, Janice and her husband, Larry Hallgarth, of Elgin; three grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the local hospice agency.

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