Mary Lou Vikse

On Wednesday, April 16, 2024, Mary Lou Vikse, at the age of 96, peacefully joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in her heavenly home.

Mary Lou born September 14, 1928, the first child of Eugene “Gene” and Hattie (Hersey) Clark. Mary Lou was truly a Pollock SD resident, moving there at the age of seven and going on to graduate from Pollock High School. After high school she studied cosmetology in Watertown, SD, before owning and operating a beauty shop in Pollock.

On her 19th birthday, Mary Lou married the love her life Orland Vikse. They went on to celebrate 64 years of marriage together and were blessed with three children.

Mary Lou was proud to be a farmer and rancher and assisted in the birthing of calves and proudly served lunch to the field workers. She was also very involved in the ministries of Pollock Lutheran Church, serving in every capacity of the church at some point. Over the years, Mary Lou was also very instrumental in Lutheran World Relief quilting and helped make over 3000 quilts. Together, she and Orland worked as mission builders on three church builds.

Mary Lou was a master at stitchery, making Hardanger altar cloths for the sanctuary and gifting numerous people with Hardanger and Afghans. She also left a legacy of candy, roll and cooking making.

She is survived by her three children, Wilma Jaycox, Lois (Paul) Johnson, and James “Jim” (Gwenn) Vikse; ten grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; sister, Joan DeBruyn; and extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orland; infant son, Gene Orland; grandchildren, Aimee, Loren and Clark Vikse; daughter-in-law, Lynn Vikse; son-in-law, Dean Jaycox; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Lloyd Johnson; and brother-in-law, Jack DeBruyn.

Mary Lou’s legacy lives on through her commitment to the Lordship of Christ, her family, generosity to missions, gifts of stitchery and sweet treats, her hard work, and strong and independent nature. Blessed be her memory.

Memorials may be directed to Lutheran World Relief or Pollock Lutheran Church.

A Visitation for Mary Lou will begin at 12:00 PM, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, followed by her Funeral Service at 1:30 PM in Pollock Lutheran Church, Pollock, SD. She will be laid to rest in Spring Creek Cemetery, Pollock.

If you choose to send flowers to Mary Lou’s funeral service please order them from Linton Floral, 113 Broadway St. N, Linton, ND 58552, - 701-254-4763.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)