Mary Louise (Reid) (Richardson) Dahlstrom

MCFARLAND/MADISON – Mary Louise (Reid) (Richardson) Dahlstrom, age 74, of McFarland, passed away on Monday, Dec.1, 2014. She was born on Oct. 26, 1940, in Denver, Colo. She was the daughter of Dan S. and Lois Lenita (Dakan) Reid. Three sons were born to her marriage to Rodney R. Richardson. She later married Howard Dahlstrom. Mary had the good fortune to work for the Wisconsin Legislative Council, housed in our beautiful capital, from 1975 to 1985, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) from 1985 until 1997, when COPD forced her to take disability retirement. Mary was active in many Cub Scout activities when her boys were young, and she enjoyed spending time in her flower gardens. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends. Some of her favorite times were being with her boys, gardening, enjoying the grandchildren, talking to her sisters, lunches with good friends, and the McFarland Historical Society activities. At the age of six, one granddaughter described her: “fun, happy, sewing, gardening, smiling, she plays with me. Grandma.” She is survived by her two sons, Troy (Lovena) Richardson of Canon City, Colo. and Travis (Mary) Richardson of McFarland, Wisc.; daughter-in-law, Andrea Richardson of Colfax, Wisc.; five grandchildren, Tyler (Cortney) Richardson and Tara (Lee Smith) Hanson-Smith of Canon City, Colo., Raina Richardson of McFarland, Wisc., Cody Richardson and Carly Richardson of Colfax, Wisc.; and five great-grandchildren, Abigail and Emilee Richardson, and Klowie, Duane and Jaxon Smith of Canon City, Colo., sisters, Patricia Sue (Wayne) Atchley and Lois Faye (Jack) Couch both of Omaha, Neb,; nieces and nephews, Zachary (Natalia) Atchley, Tisha Sue Atchley, Shannon (Paul) Watry, and Tiffany Anne (Brian) Byrkit. She is further survived by special friends, Pat Coakley, Donna O’Leary, June Thayer, Karen Hanson; many cousins and the absolute best neighbors ever. She was preceded in death by her middle son, Todd Gill Richardson; her first husband, Rod Richardson; and her parents; and grandparents. The family would like to thank Dr. George Bush, Allergy and Immunology and Dr. Richard Cornwell, Pulmonary, the staff at the UW Hospital & Clinics and Agrace HospiceCare for their kind and exceptional care. A celebration of her life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014. Burial will be at a future date in Sedalia, Colo. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to: McFarland Historical Society, P.O. Box 94, McFarland, WI 53558, McFarland Food Pantry, P.O. Box 101, McFarland, WI 53558, St. Phillip in the Field Episcopal Church, 397 South Perry Park Road, Sedalia, Colo. or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420