Funeral Services were held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 15 at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, Becker for Mary Lou Lambert, who passed away at Good Shepherd in Sauk Rapids. Visitation was from 4-7 p.m.  on Jan. 14, and one hour prior to service at the funeral home.                          

Mary Lou (Unger) Lambert was born in St. Paul MN to John and Margaret Unger, later moving to Zimmerman MN.  She married Phillip “Buster” Lambert in 1958 and they had five children.  Mary Lou worked at the Sherburne County Social Services, with Anderson-Gilyard of Becker, as an accountant during the building of the Becker Power Plant, and as the associate manager of Kensington-Buffalo Hills in Buffalo MN.  

Mary Lou was a woman before her time running for Sherburne County Commission in the 1970’s.  She had a determined spirit, teaching herself about football and bowling from the encyclopedia, getting her GED later in life, pursuing many hobbies such as painting, fishing, gardening, crafting, dancing, and raising chickens.  Mary Lou had an insatiable curiosity, and thus became an avid reader, educating herself about the world around her.  In her retirement years, she happily took on the role of homeschool grandma utilizing all of her knowledge and experience.  

It was common that Mary Lou collected friends, including her children’s friends through out the years.  She was a feisty woman with many fun and eccentric quirks; her car named Walter, her guardian angel named Patrick, her love of spam, caftan’s, and rolling her own cigarettes.  She handed down her love of music to her children and grandchildren.  Was there anything better than sitting down with Mary Lou and playing Skipbo, cribbage and dominoes, while listening to the Statler Brothers and Marty Robins? 

Mary Lou spent time reading her Bible and passed down her deep spirituality to her children. 

Mary Lou is preceded in death by her husband, Phillip, and son, Joseph; parents, brothers’ Robert and Steve, Sister Marian, nephew Michael Unger, and best friend Nancy Peterson. 

She is survived by children Ellen Lambert (children Adam and Jon), Kathleen (William) Knutson (children Ashleen, Amy and Annie), Jeffrey (Joyce) Lambert (children Phil, Heidi, Ben and Becca, Christine (Joel) Gilyard (children Austin and Shaun), and Joe’s children (Jacob, Jeremy and Jamie). Her siblings, Jack Unger, JoAnn Lambert and Russell Unger. There’s not adequate space to list all of the many special friends, family members and great grandchildren, but we know how much you all loved her. We did, too. 

Mary Lou passed away holding the hand of her beloved granddaughter, Ashleen, after a short, but aggressive battle with cancer. 

Obituary, Guest Book, and video tribute available online: www.williamsdingmann.com.