Mary Barney 08/22/2021

Mary Barney, 80, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2021. Mary was a gift to all who knew her. She loved New Richmond and lived here her entire life. She attended Prairie View School (now Stanton Town Hall), New Richmond High School, and much later, Wisconsin State University-River Falls. She lived most of her adult life on a farm which had been her grandfather’s. In 2005 it received a special designation as a Century Farm, a source of great pride.
Mary learned to play the piano at the age of nine and by the age of fourteen she was an organist at the Evangelical United Brethren Church (which became later the United Methodist Church). She continued to be a church organist for her entire life, providing music for many New Richmond weddings and funerals. She loved the small pipe organ at the Episcopal Church, where she played for decades.
She worked at Doboy for a number of years. It was there she met and married Mike Barney, who continued to make her laugh until his death a few years ago. With two young sons to raise, she didn’t return to college until she was in her forties. After receiving a degree in journalism, she was hired by several area newspapers to write human interest stories.
Later years she was employed as the recycling czar of St. Croix County; a job she enjoyed thoroughly, partly because she could write the Recycling Newsletter! Recycling was a cause in which she believed strongly and she fostered local innovation in waste reduction and environmental stewardship.
There were many other accomplishments. She was treasurer of Stanton Township. She assisted with the Tierney House relocation and the establishment of the Heritage Center. She wrote a book documenting the one-room schoolhouses in Western Wisconsin.
Mary was known not only for her accomplishments, but for her caring nature and quick wit. She had a green thumb and could save any plant no matter how far gone someone else had allowed it to go.
She had many sources of joy; her cabin on Middle Pine Lake, her horses, dogs, cats (even a raccoon), her gardens, travel to warm places, her precious farm, and most of all, her family. Her last real words were “Gramma Mary, Gramma Mary,” imitating her grandsons’ words when they were young and needed her attention.
Mary is survived by her brother, George Lewerenz (Sharon); sister, Jean Engebretson (Richard); and grandsons, Logan Branjord (Hannah) and children Grace, Cora, and Jack; Nick Branjord (Jenna), and Mitch Branjord (Andraya). All are part of Gramma Mary’s living legacy.
Her parents, ”Tommy” and Grace Lewerenz; a sister, Alice; her two sons, Lee and Joel; and her husband, Mike, all preceded her in death.
While she lived a rich and fulfilling life, her final days were marred by Alzheimer’s disease. If you feel so inclined, we would welcome any donations in her memory to either the New Richmond United Methodist Church, or to the Alzheimer’s Association. In recognition of her time as recycling czar, we request that any condolences be made electronically via the Bakken Young website to be shared by the whole family.
We celebrated Mary’s life at the New Richmond United Methodist Church on Monday, August 30, 2021. Visitation began at 2:00, with a service at 3:00. The church has COVID precautions in place, and the family requests that all attendees wear a mask. The service was also live-streamed via the Bakken Young website for those unable to travel. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Mary’s service