Mary Hibma

Mary Etta Margaret Hibma was born to William and Etta Early on January 18, 1922, in Providence, Rhode Island. She was raised in Warwick, Rhode Island, where she received her education at St. Michael’s Catholic School. A short time after her graduation, she met and married Paul Pankonen, who was stationed at the naval base there. Upon his discharge from the Navy, the couple moved to Pipestone, Minnesota, where they raised their family of five children. Mary worked for Fecker’s and Armours for several years and then for Bob and Maggie’s Pizza place. That job gave her the idea and knowledge to open her own business in the late 60’s. It was called Mary’s Pizza, and was located on Main Street. She met and married Andy Hibma, and they had one child, Cherri. In later years, she provided child care in her home, and eventually retired and moved into Storybrook Apartments where she lived until entering the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone in April of 2011. She was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2010, and died at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone at the age of 89 years, 8 months and 24 days.
Mary survived the “Great Hurricane” of 1938 that affected the New England states. That storm left a lasting impression on her. She became extremely fearful of any kind of storm following that experience. Another life-changing event that altered her life happened when her mother was forced to place Mary and her siblings in a Catholic orphanage. It happened during the Great Depression. Mary’s father had died, and her mother was not able to feed and care for her own children. Mary was about 9 years old at the time. Her mother was able to bring her children home after a short stay, but the experience left deep scars on her for the remainder of her life. Mary was an energetic fan of the Minnesota Twins. At 88 years of age, she managed to make a bus trip to Minneapolis to see the Twins play at Target Field. That was a highlight of her life. Whenever a Twins’ game, or the Wheel of Fortune, was on television, everyone had to watch television with her and be very quiet. She didn’t want to miss a second of either. Everyone who knew Mary knew two unique things about her: her “bee-hive” hairdo, and her Providence-English dialect. After living in Pipestone for 67 years, the powerful accent was still with her, and so was her favorite hairdo. She enjoyed playing Bingo and any kind of card or dice game, but they had to be for money.
Her children, granddaughters, and great-grandsons meant everything to Mary. She loved them deeply. They will miss playing games, cards, and spending time with her. She is lovingly remembered by her son, Jerry (Marjorie) Pankonen of Pipestone, MN, her daughter, Pamela Friesema of Byron Center, MI, her son, Randy (Lori) Pankonen of Little Falls, MN, and her daughter, Cherri (Billy) Fulton, of Pipestone, MN; her grandchildren, Trisha (Joel Vaske) Pankonen, Jamy Hanson, Jessica Pankonen, Elisha Friesema and Sarah Friesema; her great-granchildren, Harrison and Oliver Hanson, Jens and Gabriel Vaske; her sister, Olive Vano; and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; two children: infant daughter, Maureen Pankonen, and her son, Rodney Pankonen; and her brother, John (Buddy) Early