Mary E Wright

During her long life she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother as well as an avid ballroom dancer, golfer, bowler and long-blades skater. She will be remembered for her quick wit and offbeat sense of humor, which she maintained to the end of her life.

Born in 1917 in Portland, OR, to Paul and Elsie Geer, she grew up in the Como Park and Midway neighborhoods of St. Paul. After graduating from Mechanic Arts High School in 1936, she attended the Cables Business School in St. Paul. She moved to CA in 1940 where she worked for a few years in Stockton.

During World War II she served as a civilian employee for the U.S. Army at Ft. Ord in Monterey, CA. In 1943 she met her future husband and then-U.S. Army First Lt. Harold H. Wright, whom she always said cut a very dashing figure in his uniform. When the war ended they married and moved to Terra Haute, IN; Rochester, NY; Robbinsdale, MN; and finally White Bear Lake, MN. It was there they established an enduring circle of friends whom they shared many card parties, holidays and laughs. Betty and her late husband were married 44 years at the time of Harold’s death in March 1990.

She worked for many years in the guidance office at a secretary at Sunrise Park Jr. High School. She lived independently until age 96 when health issues forced a move to assisted living. She will be dearly missed by everyone in her family as the last of the "Greatest Generation."

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Paul Geer, Jr.; sister Sally Parsons; and brother-in-law Guil Parsons.

She is survived by sons, Gregory (Lynda) of Sarasota, FL, Robert (Susan) of Minnetonka, MN, and Donald (Arielle Piastunovich) of Burlingame, CA; grandchildren, Emily (Rob) Champagne, Grant (Michelle) Wright, Denis Wright, Andrew (Rebecca) Wright, Sara Wright (fiancé Jim Lucas), Alexander (Kristina) Wright, Aaron (Stacie) Wright, Lauren (Joe) Piskula, Kelsey Wright (fiancé Jack Hewitt), Eli and Ella Wright; 9 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Glaucoma Research Foundation (www.glaucoma.org).

Visitation one hour before the service at the funeral chapel.

Friday, February 9, 2018 10:30 AM

Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel 15800 37th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55446

Visitation one hour before the service at the funeral chapel.