Mary Lou Speer

Mankato Mortuary
1001 North Riverfront Drive
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
507-388-2202

Mary Lou Speer, age 78 of Mankato, died Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Mankato with Rev. James Pragman officiating. Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 26, 2014 at Hillside Cemetery, Center City, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 4 " 7 p.m., Tuesday at Mankato Mortuary and continue one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Memorials may be given to Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Mary Lou (Bentz - Wallin) Speer was born January 9, 1936 in Minneapolis to Gustaf and Alice (Nigler) Wallin. She graduated from Minneapolis Central High School in 1954. Mary Lou was united in marriage to James Bentz on September 27, 1958. They had two children, Gail and Thomas. James died on July 12, 1992. Mary Lou was married to Dean Speer on June 4, 1994 in Eagan, Minnesota.

Mary Lou worked at Lincoln Jr. High School in Mankato and then for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Eagan before retiring.

She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Mary Lou enjoyed playing bridge and cards with friends, bible study, cooking and entertaining her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Dean Speer of Mankato; two children, Gail (Robert) Kodelka of Savage, MN, Thomas (Briana) Bentz of St. Louis Park, MN; step-son, Gregory Speer of Oakley, CA; grandchildren, Michael (Heidi) and Matthew Kodelka and soon to be granddaughter Nia Lynn Bentz; great-grandson, Tommy Kodelka; sister Gloria Krueger of Phoenix, AZ; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceded in death by her parents, husband, James; three brothers, Wally, Robert, and Jerome.