Mary Prestin

Mary Prestin, age 63 of Lakefield, Minnesota, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield, with Pastor Andrew Schensted officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Mary Ellen Prestin was born to Donald and Audrey (Fontaine) Slosson on April 8, 1958, in Duluth, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Proctor, Minnesota. Mary attended elementary school in Duluth and graduated from Proctor High School in 1976. Mary was united in marriage in June of 1977, and gave birth to three beautiful children, Jessica, Sara, and Andrew, making their home in Duluth until the marriage ended in 1989. Mary then moved with her children to Hibbing, where she attended Hibbing Community College and Hibbing Area Tech School for a combined result of an AAS degree in Law Enforcement. Mary was employed by the City of Lakefield as a patrol officer in 1990, focusing on child protection, but doing investigations for the department as well. In 1998, Mary was promoted to Chief of Police, and maintained that position until April 2002, when an injury ended her career in law enforcement. Mary was united in marriage to Jerry Prestin on September 14, 2002. After numerous surgeries and rehabilitation, Mary tried her hand at Guardian Ad Litem for Jackson County, waitress at Hilltop Café, miscellaneous filling with the city, welder for Polar Palace, bailiff, Osterberg Funeral Home, DAC, and Camp host at the Jackson County Parks.

Mary had a strong belief in God. She has been a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield since 1990, assisting with communion, greeter, table decorations, and filled in occasionally in the office. Mary was an outstanding painter of canvas, rocks, and everything in between. She was an avid reader of mystery and supernatural novels. Mary enjoyed camping at Fury’s Island and Robertson Park, where she found another family with her camping friends. Most importantly, Mary loved and cherished each and every moment that she spent with her family.

Mary is survived by her husband of 19 years Jerry; daughters: Jessica (Patrick) Anderson, Sara (Ryan) Acosta, and Jennifer (Matt) Prestin; sons: Andrew Brick and Corey (Nicole) Poelaert; grandchildren: Zachary, Chase, Carson, Bailey, Amber, Riley, Emma, Elliot and Jase; mother Audrey (Slosson) Johanson, mother-in-law Betty Hoiland; brothers Donald Slosson, Todd Slosson and Tom (Scotty) Slosson; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and great friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her father Donald, stepfather Wayne Johanson, sisters Bunny Krueger and Carol Walsburg, father-in-law John Hoiland, her grandparent’s, and granddaughter Taylor Nicole Schmucker.

Mary will at long last be reunited with all those she has loved and lost from this earth.

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