Memorial Service for Mary Balvin, 80, of Browns Valley. MN will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Lutheran Church, Claire City, SD. Officiating will be Pastor Karie Geyer and pianist Crystal Kemnitz.

Mary Balvin was called home to her Lord and Savior on Saturday November 25, 2023, at her home in Browns Valley, MN. Mary was born on January 31, 1943, to Clifford and Margaret Meland of rural Claire City, SD. She attended elementary school at the Bossko Township country school (sometimes called the Meland school) where she was taught by her aunt Alice for six of the eight grades. She went on to high school in Sisseton, SD where she met her lifetime partner and husband Jim. They enjoyed square dancing in Claire City and went on to be married on December 30, 1958, at the age of 15 and spent the next 65 years together in many different locations throughout the United States.  In 2007, Jim and Mary moved to their dream home (designed by them) on Lake Traverse after spending the previous 20 years in Rockford, IL. One of Mary's greatest joys was spending time sitting on the deck with Jim observing activities on Lake Traverse.

To this union they were blessed with six children:  Crystal (Aaron) Kemnitz, Claire City, SD; Douglas (Mischelle) Balvin, Canby, MN; Russell (Marci) Balvin, Norfolk, NE and rural Sisseton, SD; Dawn (Robert) Clearwater, Watertown, SD; Barbara Terry, Ortonville, MN; and Amy Wagoner, Watertown, SD.  She is also survived by 14 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; one brother Robert (Joanne) Meland, Sisseton, SD; sister Georgia (Arnold) Tostenson, Bloomington, MN; sister-in-law, Jayne Meland of Clear Lake, SD; brother-in-law Gerald (Marlene) Balvin, Claire City, SD; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Margaret Meland; parents-in-law Joseph and Eva Balvin; sisters Betty Lou Meland and Marjorie Harn; brother Gary Meland; brother-in-law Claire Harn; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mary Ann and Charles Landmark; son-in-law Paul Wagoner.

In lieu of flowers the family would suggest donations to First Lutheran Church in Claire City, SD.