Mary Duncan

July 9, 1921 - April 27, 2012

Mary Ellen (Zaun) Duncan departed this earthly realm on April 27, 2012. Our beloved mother passed away in the presence of her family and Hospice of the Red River Valley at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City, ND. Mary was born in Tujunga, CA on July 9, 1921. She joined the WAAC at the start of WWII, and when the WAAC was disbanded and changed to the WAC, she left the service. On April 23, 1944, she married Fred Zaun in Valley City, ND. They lived on the family farm close to Valley City. They were married for 22 years and had four children they raised on the dairy farm they owned eight miles from Valley City. Mary cooked at several cafes in Valley City over the years, including, the Hi-Line Café, American Café, and Crawford’s Corner. She married on August 2, 1970 to Harvey Duncan. They owned and operated the Depot Café. Harvey passed away in July 1997. Mary lived with her daughter and cats in Valley City until moving into the Sheyenne Care Center due to health reasons. Our mother was extremely caring and loving, and loved having her family come to visit. She loved doing needlepoint, baking, and just taking care of us all. One of our close family friends told us Mary had never said an unkind word about anyone. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Corael; brothers, Henry and Donald; sisters, Betty, Caroline and Ruth; husband, Harvey Duncan; and granddaughter, Paula Erdmann. She is survived by her daughters, Janiece Williams of Valley City and Sue Ann (Jerry) Erdmann of McIntosh, MN; sons, Charles Zaun and Lesley (Kathleen) Zaun both of Valley City; granddaughters, Lenora Stoner, Jean Marie MaGee, Tara (Tom) Glandt, Jennifer Bennett-Zaun, Madeline Bennett-Zaun; great grandchildren, Tyler Smith, Kendra Walker, Casey Stoner, and Kinslee Glandt.