Mary Jo Stevensen 10/22/2026

In Loving Memory of Mary Jo Hicks Stevensen
Mary Jo Hicks Stevensen passed away peacefully, or whatever. In her final act of friendship, she told her best friend, Alexa, to turn off the lights a final time. Known for her pro shopping skills, Mary Jo leaves behind a collection of treasures from Target and Home Goods and a family who has no idea what to do with it all. We ask that you wait the appropriate amount of time before coming to look stuff over. Tomorrow would be fine.
Let the record show that this is not an advertisement for a pawn shop. This is the obituary of a crazy woman, cousin, aunt, mother, and friend. She spent many hours on the deck teaching the neighborhood kids how to blow smoke rings, swear in Italian and English, and make the perfect lime-flavored vodka slushies.
Mary Jo also had one final request: that everyone acknowledge the tremendous effort she put into NOT joining the mafia and becoming a hit-woman.
Mary Jo is survived by her son, Dan Johnson, her daughters Stacy Johnson Mestre, Audry Johnson Kahlstrom, and Jennifer Stevensen, her stepdaughter, Judy Stevensen Carlson; her granddaughter Kassie Stevensen; and her great-granddaughter Rheighna Jo and great-grandson Zhenliy, Grandson Nils Kahlstrom. She also leaves an extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren from her marriage to Jim Stevensen, who preceded her in death along with her her stepson James Stevensen.
Mary Jo enjoyed spending all her money at the casino, so there will be no luncheon. Just bars and coffee.
Special thanks to her niece Kelci Palmer, special friend Betty Nelson, and sister-in-law Kathy Palmer for being such great caregivers and always being there for her.
Mary Jo was one of a kind: funny, unpredictable, generous in her own way, and never one to follow the rules simply because they existed. She leaves behind a family who loved her, friends who will miss her, and enough stories to keep everyone laughing for years to come.
May she rest in peace – or at least find a casino with a good payout, a diet coke with extra-extra ice and absolutely no one telling her what to do.
She lived her way, loved her people and especially her animals, and left us with plenty to talk about. She will be missed more than she would ever admit.

A Celebration of Mary Jo’s Life will be on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 11 am at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church 1616 W Olive Street Stillwater, MN.  Visitation will also be on Thursday from 10-11 am at the church.  Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.  Cremation provided by Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

click here to watch Mary Jo’s service live on Thursday at 11 am