Obituary of Mary Virginia Bastien

Mary Virginia Bastien, 96, of Duluth and Cloquet died Monday, March 8, 2004 in the Cloquet Community Nursing Home. She was born May 15, 1907 in Wrenshall to Gideon and Marie Hebert. Mary moved to Cloquet, where she attended school and worked at the Waffle Inn where she met "the ice man". She married Arthur Bastian on June 26, 1927. Together they operated the Cloquet Ice Company for 24 years. They moved to Duluth in 1946 where they bought and managed an apartment building. Mary worked at Freimuths and Wahls Department Stores in Duluth for many years. She was captain of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary Drill Teams in Cloquet and Duluth. Mary's paramount mission in her younger years was child rearing. She always put forth a constant effort to do what was in her childrens' best interest. They stand in thankful respect to her dedication. Mary will always be remembered as a compassionate, giving and helpful person. It was not unusual for her to open her home to anyone in need. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arthur in 1988; six brothers, Allyre, Hip, Edmund, Ulric, Walter and Arthur; a sister, Emma and a grandson, Mike Eknes. Mary is survived by three daughters, Betty Longtin of White Bear Lake, Beverly "Becky" (John) Eknes of Cloquet and Annalea Hansen of Eveleth; two sons, David (Betty) Bastien of Duluth and Larry Bastien of Shoreview; 24 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren with another great grandchild expected in June. A Celebration of Mary's life was held Saturday, March 13, 2004 in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Cloquet Community Memorial Nursing Home.