Everyone loved Mary Ellen. She was born on September 2, 1943 in Durand, WI to Judge Joseph and Madalyn Riedner. With her siblings Rita, Bob, Rosie, and Carol, the family spent time on their land along the shores of Lake Pepin. They had campfires and walked along the beach, sometimes lucky enough to find arrowheads. Judge Riedner started a tradition which continues to this day: Whenever a barge goes by everyone shouts, “It’s time to go home!

Mary Ellen’s love of music began at an early age. She sang in the choir, played percussion in drum and bugle corps, and became a talented pianist and cellist. She attended St. Mary’s grade school and Lima high school, where she was valedictorian, then earned a B.A. degree in biology from Viterbo College in LaCrosse, WI. Mary Ellen thought of becoming a nun, but her life-long love of music led her to cross paths with her life-long music partner and love of her life, LaMoine MacLaughlin. Their marriage began on May 29, 1965 and would last for over sixty years. Don’t tell LaMoine this, but that’s why everyone thought Mary Ellen was a saint. They filled their days with teaching and folk music while living near mother-in-law Helen (Grandma), Tom, and Helen in Eau Claire, WI, where Mary Ellen worked as a nurse’s aide at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Eventually Mary Ellen and LaMoine settled on Lake Magnor near Clayton, WI, to raise their three daughters, valuing education, community, and the importance of raising independent thinkers. Mary would become a geological engineer and professor at Montana Tech. Karen would become an attorney and activist in Rochester, MN. Louie would become a gypsy. The family loved ice skating, everyone admiring mom’s expertise at skating backwards. She made the best brownies ever and had cookie cutters for each holiday, of course shamrocks being her favorite.

To honor her Irish heritage Mary Ellen wore green every St. Patrick’s Day and “encouraged” her daughters to wear shamrock pins to school. Always a science teacher at heart, she was an environmentalist before it was “cool” and took out her frustrations while volunteering to crush glass at the recycling center. She proudly donated blood at every possible bloodmobile. According to the American Red Cross, Mary Ellen donated 97 units of blood (12 ¼ gallons) and helped save 291 lives.

Mary Ellen loved her children’s dogs, cats, horses, and chickens, but from day one she had a special bond with grandson Ean. Mary Ellen, Karen and Ean made fun memories during their travels to Washington D.C., Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Montana to visit Mary and Steve. Their trip to Springfield, Illinois was special for Mary Ellen because, even though like George Washington she could not tell a lie, it was Abraham Lincoln whom she most admired. She had long ago memorized his Gettysburg Address and believe it or not, she was able to meet Lincoln on that trip! Mary Ellen experienced the magnificence of Alaska with sisters Rita and Carol. With LaMoine she enjoyed many trips to Mary and Steve’s in Montana, and ventured abroad twice to the lochs and castles of Scotland.

Mary Ellen likely didn’t realize what started with a few piano lessons would expand to her sharing her love of music with countless students around the area. She and LaMoine founded the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts in Amery, WI, where they offered the entire community the opportunity to not only share and enjoy, but participate in music, theater, writing, photography, and everything arts. For over thirty years, while LaMoine held the title of executive director, Mary Ellen ran the Arts Center. While her focus was beginner piano lessons, she played cello and string bass in the orchestra, and managed day-to-day operations. This is when the community fell in love with her. She adored her students, taking care of all scheduling and recitals. You could see her walking around town requesting donations or putting up flyers for their events. One year she even volunteered to stand in the river catching the winning apples for Amery Fall Festival. Mary Ellen made sure each Arts Center event was followed with homemade treats, adding that special touch to everything she did.

Aside from music, Mary Ellen’s true love was nature. Every day she walked around Lake Magnor, usually taking a bag to pick up litter. You could find her sitting on the dock watching a storm roll in or sleeping with her daughters outside to observe meteor showers. If Mary Ellen found a spider in the house she took it outside instead of killing it, and she couldn’t resist trying to save injured birds or feeding kittens that showed up on the porch. She would have made a great veterinarian. Amazingly she could spot a four leaf clover from a mile away, and she let milkweed invade the lawn for one of the great delights of her life, monarch butterflies.

Mary Ellen struggled with Alzheimer’s disease but retained her grace, joy and laughter. After a good fight she stopped struggling on September 18, 2025. If you know any of Mary Ellen’s piano students,  please let them know. Friends are invited to a celebration of Mary Ellen’s life on Sunday, October 26 from 2:00-5:00pm at Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp, 1204 74th Avenue (formerly Hickory Point Lane), Amery, WI, with a program at 3:00 and light refreshments throughout. A private family burial will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery, Eau Claire, WI, at a later date. Even though Mary Ellen loved flowers, please instead donate to any monarch butterfly, animal or nature charity of your choice, or simply plant some pollinators.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband LaMoine; daughters Mary (husband Steve Berry), Karen, Louie; grandson Ean; sisters Rita Conlin, Rosie Hentz, Carol Hepler (husband Kelly); brother-in-law Tom MacLaughlin; sister-in-law Helen Gilles; nephews-in-laws Ken (wife Ruth) and Kevin (wife Esther) Knudson; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, many friends, and all of her students.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents Judge Joseph and Madalyn Riedner; brother Bob Riedner; sister-in-law Betty Riedner; brothers-in-law Fred Conlin, Mike Hentz; mother-in-law Helen MacLaughlin; father-in-law LaMoine MacLaughlin; sisters-in-law Judy and Trudy MacLaughlin; brother-in-law Dave Gilles.

This sentiment from a friend is undoubtedly shared by many: “The times I met her, she always struck me as a positive, shining light, full of joy. That’s how I’ll remember her.” For Mary Ellen, be kind. Look for small ways to make the world a better place. If you see a piece of litter, pick it up and make her smile. Enjoy a walk in nature or simply take some time to listen to the birds or wind in the trees. If you see a monarch butterfly or four leaf clover, think of her. Perhaps Mary Ellen saw a barge go by and as her father would have said, “It’s time to go home!”

Last Update: Oct 09, 2025 7:05 am CDT