Mae married Harry O'Neal in 1937, and together they made Albert Lea their home until 1961. Because of Harry's promotion by Wilson & Co., the family relocated to Cedar Rapids, IA, where their seventh child Rod was born. Mae called & wrote often to the friends and family she left behind in MN, always expressing her love and concern for them. She & Harry always took time for their family & others, no matter how busy they were. Together she and Harry, who were married 6 years, made many trips with their family back to MN to visit Family.
She became a fantastic seamstress with the ability to design & sew for her children & neighbors, formals, wedding dresses, costumes, coats, sports wear, hats & whatever was needed.
As a member of First Lutheran Church, in Albert Lea, Mae taught Sunday School, and sewed choir gowns. She and her husband Harry also sang in the adult choir & for weddings.
Her unquenchable thirst for knowledge had her constantly taking courses in philosophy & spirituality. She became a “student of Life” who was found capable of channeling God's healing powers to those who believed. She obtained a Masters Degree in Reiki Healing. Mae helped many people by taking them into her home & also by sharing her knowledge of healing by faith, correct thought & proper nutrition. In her later years she spent much of her time in meditation & prayer, teaching her children & others to put the things we could not handle into God's hands, saying, “let go & let God” and “this too shall pass”. She was also a strong advocate of positive thinking, fairness, kindness, forgiveness & understanding.
She & her teachings will be in our hearts forever.
Thank You Mom
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Art & Caroline her husband Harry in 2001, Grandchild Lindsey Dahl, her brothers: Arvel, Jim, George, Vernon & Elvern Thompson, Sisters: Alice (Harry) Rosenthal &Clarice (Ben) Henrichs, Brothers- in-Law: Harry Rosenthal, Ben Henrichs, Leo O'Neal & Milt Nelson; Sisters-in- Law: Winfred, Pauline, & Bernice Thompson.
She is survived by her children: Patricia (Frank) Gjersvik of Manchester, MN, Carol (Dennis) Colstrup of Albert Lea, Steve O'Neal of Wasilla, AKA, Kathy Toms, Kevin (Deb) O'Neal, Rod (Shelley) O'Neal of Cedar Rapids, IA & Luanne (Bill) Watts of Los Angeles, CA.; Grandchildren: Kris (Ross) Dahl, Terry (Darah) Gjersvik, Neal (Lisa) Gjersvik, MN, Bill (Andrea) Gjersvik, Cheryl (Mike) Yauger, Judy (Dick) Hoiseth, Danny Colstrup & friend Christine Bolinger, Tim (Anne) Colstrup, Jennifer (Chad Gardner), Shannon (Gina) O'Neal, Shane (Rhonda) Toms, Jason (Angie) Toms, Allison (John) Jacobs, Rachel (Roy) Tamayo & Kyle Jaycox, Isaac Watts, and Hailey & Logan O'Neal; Great-Grandchildren: Gretchen, Taylor, Bryce & Graham Dahl, Hannah, Lars & Grace Gjersvik, Harry, Lilly & Noah Gjersvik. Langdon Gjersvik, Nicholas & Anthony Hoiseth & Tarah Hoiseth Larson, Michelle Parker, Carrie, Mikey & Andy Yauger, Soren & Eric Colstrup, Beau & Abe Gardner, Brennan, Lexi & Alisa O'Neal, Sawyer Toms & Tyler Andrews, Ella & Luke Toms, Olivia & Benjamin Jacobs, Julia, Maya and Rio Tamayo, and Jamison O'Neal; Great Great Grandchildren: Oliver & Hali Dahl, Haaken Dahl, Brandon & Hailey Parker, Gage Studier& Neveah Hoiseth, and Chambers Hoiseth; Brother Harold Thompson & his wife Helen, Brother-in-Law Roger O'Neal, Sisters-in-Law Bernice O'Neal, Blanche O'Neal, Florence (George) Thompson and Florence (Elverne) Thompson.
Many caring nieces & Nephews also survive her .
Her family & those who knew her will dearly miss her.
