Mary went to be with her Lord on Wednesday morning, September 10, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. She was born on January 4, 1936 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Harry and Thelma Fredricksen. They farmed near Lincoln, Iowa.

Mary attended a country school and later graduated from Reinbeck Consolidated High School.

She graduated from Iowa State Teacher's College on June 4, 1958. Two days later she married Paul Schwerdtfeger, the love of her life. They lived on the family farm just East of Parkersburg, Iowa, where they farmed and had dairy cows. After being widowed in 1984, she worked at Sartori Hospital, Palmers Grocery Store, and Custom Draperies. In 1999 she moved to Derby, Kansas to be near her grandchildren. She later worked for latchkey in Derby until she retired. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Mulvane, Kansas, and volunteered at the Derby Senior Center.

Paul and Mary had three children, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Pauline Killough (husband, Mike) of Wichita, Kansas, David Schwerdtfeger (wife, Cindy) of Fridley, Minnesota, and Patricia Schwerdtfeger of Chico, California. Her four grandchildren: Kara Trice, (husband, Ryan) of Lenexa, Kansas, Paul Steffens (wife, Kayla) of Derby, Kansas, Rachel Vik (husband, Andrew) of West Salem, Wisconsin, and Kyle Schwerdtfeger (wife,Lauren) of Lincoln, Nebraska. Her seven great-grandchildren: Landrie and Mindy Steffens, Cailin, Jason and Warren Vik, Jack and Luke Schwerdtfeger. She is also survived by her sister Becky Howard of Des Moines, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at the First Baptist Church in Mulvane, Kansas, at 1:00pm. There will also be a graveside service in Parkersburg, Iowa, at a date yet to be determined.