Mary Claire Voorhees
Mary Claire Voorhees, age 78 of Benson, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2024, due to cancer at CentraCare – Benson Hospital in Benson, MN.
Visitation for Zniewski Funeral Home will be held Wednesday, January 8, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Claire Voorhees will be at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2024 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, MN.
Burial will be in West Bank Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.
Mary Claire was born in the family yard in Hancock, Minnesota, at 1:30 a.m. on July 22, 1946, to parents Francis and Agnes (Regan) Conroy. She was baptized and confirmed at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, Minnesota. Mary graduated from Hancock High School with the Class of 1964 and was voted the most courteous girl in the class. She continued her education and received her teaching degree from Moorhead State University in 1967.
Mary was united in marriage to Eldon Voorhees on April 11, 1969, and moved to the Voorhees family farm in West Bank Township where she lived for 53 years before moving to Benson in 2022. Mary and Eldon were blessed with two children, Nancy and William.
Mary taught Health and Physical Education in Fergus Falls, St. Paul, and Appleton. Eldon and Mary farmed for 15 years, and in 1983, Mary started the first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) vegetable garden in West Central Minnesota. She managed the office for their family owned N.E.M. Wood, Inc. for 25 years and worked for West Corp as a work-at-home telephone agent for ten years.
Mary used her talents to knit, crochet, and cross stitch many items for gifts and charities. She enjoyed reading, watching English mystery shows on television, and visits to and from her family. Her favorite saying was, “No one is greater in the eyes of God than you. And no one is lesser in the eyes of God than you.”
Mary is survived by her husband: Eldon Voorhees; children: Nancy Colón of Tampa, Florida, and Will (Joni) Voorhees of Appleton, MN; three granddaughters: Yaneliz and Eva Colón, and Evelyn Voorhees; and grandson: David Voorhees; her siblings: John (Della) Conroy of Hancock, MN, Kathleen Conroy of Austin, Texas, Elizabeth (Basil) Rudnick of Isleton, California, Patricia Conroy (Dennis Anhalt) of Alexandria, MN, Patrick (Sandra) Conroy of Horace, North Dakota; and sisters-in-law: Mimi Conroy of Eagan, MN, and Renee Conroy of Sheridan, Wyoming; many nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents: Francis and Agnes Conroy; brothers: James Conroy and Michael (Mick) Conroy; parents-in-law: William and Irene Voorhees; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Roger and Jan Voorhees and Ray Koosman.
Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, MN.
