Mary Lee Connors Tenneson, who was born on July 18, 1936, in Helena, died on Jan. 10, 2013, in Redmond, Ore., of complications arising from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 76 years old. Mary Lee was the first child born to Thomas L. Connors and Molly Jackson Connors, in what was to become — as her four siblings came along over the following 14 years — a boisterous, loving, closeknit, argumentative, Irish-Catholic family.
Mary Lee attended school at St. Helena School and Helena High School. She graduated from Helena High in 1954.
During high school, Mary Lee worked at the Parrot and later at the Marlow Theater, where she met her husband-to-be, Richard K. Tenneson. They were married on Feb. 12, 1955, and continued to live in Helena for a couple of years. While they were in Helena, their first child, Ric, was born. When Ric was a year old, Mary Lee and Rich moved to Portland, Ore., Rich’s home town. Barbie and then John were born to the couple in Oregon.
Her children and grandchildren were the lights of Mary Lee’s life. She was very present in her children’s lives, and they have many funny and heart-warming stories to tell of growing up with Mary Lee as their mother. She was completely captivated by her first grandchild and every one of the six others that were to follow.
Mary Lee loved to travel, and over the years traveled with family members and/or her life-long friend, Rita Tenneson, to many places, among which were Hawaii, Norway, cruises to the Caribbean, and, best of all, to England and Ireland. Mary Lee was a lifelong Anglophile, while still being a proud Irishman.
Mary Lee lived in Oregon for 52 years, first in Lake Oswego, Ore., and then in Sisters, Ore. In 2008, Mary Lee moved back to Helena to be near her sister and brothers. They were able to enjoy their time with her, but gradually, Alzheimer’s took its toll and Mary Lee went back to Oregon to spend her final months in a home near her daughter in Redmond, Ore.
She is survived by her children, Ric (Alison) Tenneson of Helena, Barbie (Dave) Bowers of Bend, Ore., and John (Annie Meckley) Tenneson of Lake Oswego, Ore.; her grandchildren, Rachel (Jonathan) Hillis, Hannah Tenneson, Danielle Elder, Lee Elder, Grace Tenneson, Mack Tenneson, Caleb Tenneson and Selma Tenneson; adopted grandchildren, Neeka Rhodes and Allie Rhodes; sister, Kathy Connors; brothers, Tom Connors, Dan Connors and Ed Connors; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:30 p.m.
Saturday March 23, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Burial
Following the Memorial Service
Saturday March 23, 2013
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, MT 59602
Reception
Following the Burial
Saturday March 23, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:30 p.m.
Saturday March 23, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Burial
Following the Memorial Service
Saturday March 23, 2013
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, MT 59602
Reception
Following the Burial
Saturday March 23, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
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The Williams Family says
We would like to express our deepest sympathy for your loss. The loss of someone close is difficult to bear. God promises a time when death will be no more and this is found at Revelation 21:4 which read: And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. I hope this brings you some comfort.