Mavis Ordell Durensky

Mavis Durensky, age 94, of Barnesville, MN died on Friday, November 1, 2024 at ValleyCare and Rehab in Barnesville, MN. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville, MN with Father Todd Arends presiding. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Barnesville, MN. 

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM, Tuesday at Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. 

Mavis Ordell Smaaladen was born on February 3, 1930, to Olaf and Mabel (Groseth) Smaaladen in Aneta, ND. She was the youngest of eight children. She grew up in Fargo, North Dakota where she attended school graduating from Central High School in 1948. She then went on to the New York Hairdressers Academy in Fargo where she became a beautician. She worked at Jewel’s Beauty Salon for a few years. 

On February 6, 1950, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Durensky at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Fargo. They lived with Kenneth’s parents as they started out their married life before moving to a home in Fargo. They continued living in Fargo until a tornado came through and that was when they built a home in Moorhead, MN. In 1963, Mavis and Kenneth moved their young family to a farm in rural Barnesville and then in 1966 they built a home in Atherton Township in Wilkin County. Mavis worked hard all her life as a farm wife. She picked hundreds of eggs daily and made meals to feed the farm hands and her family. Mavis prided herself in a spotless home where nothing was ever out of place. However, the most important thing to her was her children. She loved them with her whole heart. 

Over the years, she also enjoyed entertaining dance parties and card games at her home. She was a member of the Assumption Catholic Church and the Guild. One of her favorite times was hosting the annual 4th of July party at her farm place. Her husband Kenny died in 1999, and she maintained her farm home, where she continued to mow the grass and care for her home until moving into the ValleyCare and Rehab in 2020. She might have been little in stature, but she was definitely a feisty woman. 

She is survived by her four children: Steve (Shirley) Durensky, Roger (Gladys) Durensky, Brian Durensky, and Pamela (Richard) Scheffler all of Barnesville, MN; six grandchildren: Melissa Thomas, Shane Durensky, Sarah Roberts, Brent (Michelle) Durensky, Christopher Durensky, and David Durensky; great grandchildren: Brody Thomas, Brooks Durensky, Charleigh Durensky, Haddie Dueensky, Daysha Roberts, Shayla Roberts, Tayvian Roberts, Christopher Durensky Jr., Michael Durensky, Jasmine Durensky, and Justin Durensky. 

Welcoming Mavis to her heavenly home was her husband Kenneth, her parents Olaf and Mabel, her siblings: Orphie Smaaladen, Earl (Marion) Smaaladen, Idean Smaaladen, Luvern Smaaladen, Eunice (William) Riegel, Delores (Harold) King, and Millie (Richard) Krueger.