Mary "Pep" Drilling, 79, peacefully passed away, on February 10, 2024, embraced in her home, surrounded by her family.

Mary was born on February 17, 1944, in Northfield, MN. She was the youngest of five children, born to Edmund and Amelia (Robinson) Drilling. She was raised in the Stanton area, and graduated from Randolph High School in 1962, with a class size of thirteen. She was a homemaker and in later years had her own cleaning business.

Mary married Michael Lindell on January 26, 1963, and had four daughters, they later divorced. On August 6, 1988, she married Bennett Gorder.

Throughout the years of her life, she lived in Maiden Rock, Red Wing, Pine Bush (New York), Orville (California), Byron, Austin, and in her final years in Stewartville.

In Mary's younger years you would find her on one of her horses. Family time was very important to her. She loved celebrations, playing games, cooking, baking, Swedish weaving, crocheting, macrame, ceramics, playing pool, bowling, golfing, gardening, and making jewelry. She enjoyed being a snowbird in Texas, traveling, dancing, and listening to Ben play his guitar around the campfire with family and friends. She was very proud of her kids, thirteen grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, and enjoyed spending time with them. Mary could make everyone smile. She was very outgoing, loved to joke around and tell stories.

Mary is survived by her husband, Bennett Gorder; four daughters, Wendy (Daniel) Liudahl, Kimberly (Paul) Tribbitt, Lynee McConnell, DeAnn (Stan) Meier; thirteen grandchildren; thirty-four great-grandchildren; sisters, Delores Crump, Janet Emery; brother-in-law, Roy Henderson; sister-in-law, Betty (Brian) Johnson; brother-in-law, Donald Gorder; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, brother Clinton, sister Kate Henderson, son-in-laws Earl Tribbitt and Chad Turner, great-grandson Owen Turner, mother and father-in-law George and Bernice Gorder, brothers-in-law Dale Crump and David Gorder.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 23, 2024, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery in Preston, MN at 3:00 p.m.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com .