It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Mary Joan Bistram of Minneapolis, MN — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
What follows is not the whole story, but a thread of it.
The hands that raised children leave fingerprints on the future.
Bistram, Mary Joan (Roberts) age 94, of Fridley passed peacefully with her children at her side on April 29, 2026.
Preceded in death by parents, Bill and Mildred, sister, Pat, and husband of 65 years, Martin
(Marty). With sincere humor, all her children would say that Mary loved order, following
rules, numbers, and believed everything had its place. Numbers were meant to add up,
checkbooks balanced to the penny, bowling scores properly counted, and shoes off in the
house.
Mary loved to laugh and recently shared she was voted "Best Smile" in her high school
class. Nobody could make her smile, laugh, or break a rule more than her husband Marty,
who she met at her 15th birthday party and had missed dearly for 10 years. Mary also found
humor, joy, love, and unique connections were to be made with her children, families, and
God. She ended all goodbyes with "I love you more" followed by "You'll never get ahead of
me."
Survived by children, Greg (Becky), Gary (Susan), Guy (Becky), Mary Jo (Art) Erdman, Grant
(Danell), and Karin (Tom) Kladar; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Kathryn. In
lieu of flowers, donations to Godtown.org are preferred.
