Mary P. Robinson

Mary Phydella (Kalenze) Robinson died peacefully on December 24, 2020 in Parkside Lutheran Home, Lisbon, ND.

Mary was born on June 12, 1944 to Amity (Landowski) & Leroy Kalenze Sr. in Des Lacs, ND.  She was the 5^th oldest of 13 children.

Mary was a vibrant, intelligent woman who was a talented artist, loved having music playing no matter where she was, & suffered from mental illness (schizophrenia) from her late teens.  Her family moved many times as a girl as her father, Leroy, worked at several major construction jobs across ND, including the Garrison Dam.  In 1950, the family settled in Grand Forks, ND, where Mary attended & graduated from St. James High School in 1962.  A few months later she married Robert W. Jones of Indiana.  They moved to Pensacola, FL & in 1963 they had a daughter, Stephanie.  Mary & Bob divorced in 1965, with Mary & Stephanie moving to Grand Forks, living predominantly with her parents & siblings.  She attended Aaker’s Business College & UND periodically, & also worked various jobs.  In February 1971, she married Howard A. Smith, a few months later moving to Phoenix, AZ.  Mary did a few clerical jobs, but finally became a Periodical Librarian for AZ State University.  She truly loved this work!  She had also received her Arts Degree through a written course & started a Sign Co. with Howard that did predominantly hotel & conference center projects.  In 1980, Howard suffered a devastating motorcycle accident which required the family to move to Fargo, ND to be close to his family & then the VA Hospital for surgeries & therapy.  A few hard years lead them to divorcing.  Mary later married Eugene Robinson in 1983.  She had two sons with Gene, Matthew, born April 1984, & David, born December 1985.  They separated & divorced after David’s birth, both sons going into the foster care system, due to her & Gene’s mental health concerns.

Mary had troubles for several years but was always under watch by social services & assorted family members.  After suffering some medical issues, including a stroke, she was moved to Parkside Lutheran Home, where the gentle & caring staff made her feel welcome & at home.  She loved the staff & was finally comfortable.  She was also attended by Hospice & Guardian Angels who have done so much for her heart & soul.  May thanks to all her caregivers.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Amity & Leroy Kalenze; siblings, Leroy Jr. (Berthold, ND), Sister Frieda Kalenze (St. Paul, MN), Mark (Guam), Linus (Grand Forks, ND), Jerome (Raleigh, NC) & Kevin (Grand Forks, ND); niece, Katie Kalenze & nephew, Kenny Kalenze.

She is survived by her daughter & son-in-law, Stephanie (Jones) & Brian Blatchford, West Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Gregory & Elizabeth (Deyle) Blanchford, West Fargo, ND, Kristopher & Milissa (Blatchford) Martin, Fargo, ND; great-grandchildren, Dean & Clara Blatchford and Krista Martin.  Also, sons Matthew and David Robinson. Her surviving siblings are Heidi Sundell (MN), Kathe Johnson (MN), Leslie Kalenze (MN), Joseph (Gail) Kalenze (TN), Greg Kalenze (Grand Forks, ND) & Steven (Wendy) Kalenze (FL), with dozens of nieces & nephews & great nieces & nephews.

Her family would like to extend our thanks & gratitude to Wright Funeral Home (esp. Melissa) for their gentle assistance.  Also, thank you to aunt Kathe & uncle Greg for their caring conversations & advise.

Memorial Services will be held in June 2021 at Calgary Cemetery in Grand Forks, ND.  Peace Be With You All, and to you Mother.