Mary Liebl

Obituary

Mary Theresa (Stahl) Liebl was born July 23, 1936 in Olivia, Minnesota, the fifth of twelve children to Edmond G. and Mary Ellen (Smiley) Stahl. Mary was baptized as an infant into the Catholic Church and was later confirmed in her faith. She graduated from Olivia High School and afterward earned an LPN nursing degree.

Mary met Hilary “Larry” Liebl at a dance and the rest is history. Mary and Larry were married at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia, Minnesota, on November 14, 1959. The couple resided in Cairo Township on the Liebl Homestead dairy farm. During their 24 years of marriage, they were blessed with 11 children before Larry passed away on August 26, 1984. Mary remained on the farm for several years afterward before moving into the town of Fairfax.

Mary was employed at the Fairfax Community Home. She was also a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Fairfax, the Catholic Aide, and the Fairfax American Legion Auxiliary #205.

Mary was an avid reader; it was a rare occasion when she didn't have a book handy. She once admitted that if she hadn’t been a nurse she would have loved to have a job where she could read all day. Mary also loved to sing; she was a member of the St. Andrew's choir for many years and enjoyed going to church to sing hymns even after she could no longer climb the stairs to the choir loft. She loved visiting with friends while playing cards or dice, or while tying quilts. When she wasn’t reading, praying, or participating in rip-roaring games of Sheep’s Head and 500, Mary kept her hands busy with knitting, crocheting, sewing, or canvas stitching.

More than anything, Mary cherished the time she spent with her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved watching the little ones play, and reading to them, of course. Her greatest joy was having all her children in one place. She always had a smile and a kind word for everyone, and if you were lucky, a peanut butter blossom.

Mary passed away peacefully at Harmony River Living Center on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the age of 89 years. While she will be dearly missed, she is surely dancing with her husband again. Blessed be her memory.

Mary is survived by:
Ten of her children, Charlene (Joel) Hohenstein of Rosemount, MN; Kenneth (Sheri) Liebl of Lafayette, MN; Paul Liebl and special friend, Tracy Schaefer of Fairfax, MN; Robert (Grace) Liebl of Colorado Springs, CO; Mary Ann Liebl and special friend, Brian Moisan of Biscay, MN; Thomas (Brenda) Liebl of Fairfax, MN; Steven (Rochelle) Liebl of Fairfax, MN; Barbara (Jim) Liebl of Litchfield, MN; Sarah (Niki) Liebl of Ramsey, MN; and Ann (Chuck) Salmonson of Wales, WI;
Grandchildren, Erin (Austin) Sutliff; Jenna (Jack) Wenner; Peter Hohenstein; Justin Hohenstein; Haylee Liebl; Josh Liebl and special friend, Mia Wolters; Tyler (Kendra) Liebl; Emily Liebl; Zachary Liebl and special friend, McKenzie Tangen; Ashley Liebl and special friend, Jordan Albrecht; Aidan, Audra, and Kyler Sjogren; Teagan and Rory Liebl; and Jack and Nicholas Salmonson;
Great-grandchildren, Eddie Sutliff and Frankie Sutliff;
Siblings, Dave Stahl, John Stahl, Francis Stahl, Peggy Stahl, Joan Anderson, Ann Tomporowski, Patricia “Tricia” Davis;
In-laws, Isabelle Petsinger, Pauline Groen, and Howard Liebl;
Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her Parents, Edmund and Mary Stahl; Husband, Larry Liebl; Daughter in infancy, Hillary Ann Liebl; Siblings, Gertrude “Trudy” Raboine, Veronica “Bonnie” Lindquist, Edmund “Buck” Stahl Jr., and Mark Stahl; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, William O. and Mary P. Liebl; In-laws, Marion LeGare, and Janet Odenbrite.