Mary Louise Topp

Mary Louise Topp of Mankato, Minnesota, an educator, an explorer, and traveler left on her final journey on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Mary Topp was born in Hastings Nebraska July 26, 1946 to Tage and Ruth (Carlile) Topp. She attended Cottey College, a two-year women’s college and continued her studies at University of Nebraska, and then Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education. Her M.A. in Elementary Education was from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She also studied French at the Monterey Institute of Foreign Languages in Monterey, California and did post-graduate work at Indiana University.

Mary was an educator for over 30 years. Her career began in 1970, as a first grade teacher at Heather Hill Elementary School in Flossmoor, Illinois. She then taught first grade for three years at the American Cooperative School in Tunis, Tunisia. She returned to the United States to study for her Master’s in Education with emphasis in reading instruction at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mary continued her teaching career in St. Peter, Minnesota from 1975-2003 as a Title I reading teacher and eventually assumed the position of Coordinator of the Title Program. After retirement she worked for the University of Minnesota as a Literacy Coach for Kennedy Elementary School, Mankato, which had received a grant through federal Reading First initiative.

During her career, Mary served on the board of South West Minnesota Reading Council. She was membership chair and then President of the Minnesota Reading Association (MRA). Mary was also President of the Minnesota Association of Administrators of State and Federal Education Programs (MAASFEP). In her leadership position with MAASFEP she went to Washington D.C. to lobby for federal funding of the Title I program. She also attended many of the World Congresses on Reading held around the world.

After retirement, Mary continued her connection with the University of Minnesota by serving as President of the South Central Minnesota Chapter of the U of M Alumni Association for 10 years. During that time the chapter received the Outstanding Alumni Chapter award.

Mary was a member of P.E.O chapter U and served in all official roles. She was a member of the 3R’s book club of St. Peter and the St. Peter Minnehaha Chapter of Questers. She served as a Deacon for the First Presbyterian Church in Mankato for 2 three-year terms and was Moderator for a year.

Mary’s love of travel was kindled by the experiences she had traveling with her father throughout Europe as a 13 year old. During this trip she met many Danish relatives. She has since visited and explored 7 continents and filled her home with many beautiful and meaningful artifacts from around the world. Her most memorable experience was camping and tenting on a snow shelf as part of the itinerary of an Antarctic cruise.

Mary made many trips to Colorado to visit her cousins Edd and Warren Gillespie and friends and hike in the Rocky Mountains. Many of her holidays were spent with er cousin Elizabeth Klammer and family who lived in several southern states.

Mary enjoyed her life in Mankato, being with friends, attending plays and concerts.

A celebration of Mary's life will be held in March at First Presbyterian Church in Mankato - more details to follow. She will be laid to rest in Hastings, Nebraska.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by cousins in Colorado, North and South Carolina and Tennessee.

Mary was a lovely and interesting person to know and she will be missed.

Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church, VINE and the YMCA.