Mavis Patricia Winger
Mavis Patricia Winger
September 28, 1929 – August 29, 2026
Mavis Patricia Winger, 96, of Bemidji, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2026.
Mavis was born on September 28, 1929, at her childhood home on Sandy Lake in Debs, Minnesota, to Albert and Bertha Thompson. She grew up in a close-knit family of eight in a two-room home on the west side of Sandy Lake, surrounded by five brothers and one sister. Her childhood was filled with laughter, family, and music—three things that remained central to her life.
Mavis attended a one-room elementary school before graduating from Bemidji High School and attending Bemidji College. After graduation, she moved to Rexford, Montana, where she taught grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse.
She married Hardine Winger in 1950. Hardine’s work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) resulted in moving to many new places during their early years of marriage, some of which included Annette Island, Alaska, where they lived for two years. They later lived in Cleveland, Ohio; Dickinson, North Dakota, where their first son, Mark, was born; Fargo, North Dakota; and Oklahoma City. Then in 1956, they settled in Richfield, Minnesota, where their second son, Kent was born, and resided there over the next 27 years.
While living in Richfield, Mavis enjoyed many activities and excelled in both softball and bowling, winning a state championship once and placing second three consecutive years. Mavis served as secretary of the Elliott Elementary School PTA and was deeply involved in her community. One of her many hobbies was oil painting, writing and telling stories of her growing up in northern Minnesota.
She continued to grow in her love of music and one of the highlights while living in the cities, was being a part of a vaudeville variety group called “The Entertainers”. Mavis performed for many, many years with 15 other talented women at nursing homes throughout the twin cities area.
In 1981, after Hardine retired, the couple returned to their roots on Sandy Lake Road, where they both had spent their childhoods living less than three miles apart. It was there that Mavis, once again, became an active and beloved part of the Debs community. You would always see her at the local music events, Debs parades (where she was a clown for many years), church dinners, American Legion Auxiliary and most community gatherings.
Music continued to be one of the great joys of Mavis’s life. Her love of music began in childhood with family jam sessions and continued throughout her life. She formed the musical trio ‘The Happy Wanderers’ with her niece, Ardell Lewis, and dear friend Bev Petrie and eventually Rose Erickson. They performed a total of 35 years all over the Bemidji area and surrounding communities. Her musical talent and dedication to sharing music with others earned her the ‘Queen of Country Award’ in 2010 at the Beltrami County Fair.
Her faith was also an important part of her life. Mavis was a lifelong member of Debs Trinity Lutheran Church and, after moving closer to Bemidji, became actively involved with Pony Lake Trinity Lutheran Church. Although Mavis was a private person when it came to her faith, she quietly lived with a deep love for Jesus and trusted Him as her Savior.
After Hardine passed away in 2007, Mavis moved into Bemidji, where she centered her life around music, faith, family, and the growing generations of her family. She especially cherished time spent with her loved ones.
Mavis was preceded in death by her immediate family: Her parents, Albert and Bertha Thompson, her brothers, Dennis, Alvin, Glenn, Lawrine, Orion (Gordie), Leroy, her sister Opal, and her little great granddaughter, Tiana Winger.
Mavis is survived by her sons, Mark (Jill) and Kent (Jayne); her grandchildren, Luke, Lindsey, Sara, Nick, and Kristina; and her 15 great-grandchildren, who brought her tremendous joy. She also leaves behind many loving family members, friends, and members of the community who will miss her warmth, artistic giftings, storytelling, music, laughter, and generous spirit.
She passed along her love of music to her sons, who in turn shared that love with their children and grandchildren, creating a musical legacy that will continue for generations.
Mavis will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and the community she held so close to her heart.
A celebration of Mavis’s life will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bemidji on October 17, 2026. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00am and the service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the Debs Community Center.