Marybeth Potts

Marybeth (Svendsgaard) Potts, 71, died peacefully Thursday February 26, 2026, at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton, MN, with her friend Sue Hanstad at her side. Born Mary Beth Svendsgaard on August 6, 1954, she was the third of what would eventually become eight children born to James and Idella (Marquardt) Svendsgaard of Fergus Falls. She graduated with honors from FFHS in 1972. On July 3, 1980, she married Floyd Potts, out of Oklahoma. The two of them eventually lived in Dalton, where Marybeth opened a craft shop in their front porch, literally called Mary’s Front Porch. Many in Dalton admired her gardens, which beautifully decorated their entire property. She was a vendor at the Dalton Threshing celebrations for several years and they enjoyed their neighbors very much. They spent their love on two rottweilers; the first was Earl, the second called Otto. Floyd died suddenly in November 1998. After a long recovery, Mary lived briefly in an outer Twin Cities suburb where she worked as foreman for a landscaping company. Injured there, she took her settlement and bought a house in Wheaton, where she lived for her remaining years. Seeing a need in Traverse County, she formed Nimble Fingers on the Prairie, a non-profit dedicated to providing knitted hats, scarves, and mittens for those who would be cold otherwise. It was only when her health began to fade that she resigned from that noble cause.

Preceding Marybeth in death were her parents; brothers Scott, Richard (Dick), Paul, and Dale. She is survived by two brothers, Larry (Fredericksburg, VA) and Roger (Fergus Falls), as well as sister Kristi (Ulland), also in Fergus Falls. Nieces Megan (Stuart) Edgerley, Lesley (Paul) Schafer, Michelle (Tyler) Thompson, and Allison (Todd) Smith; nephew James (Danielle), several great nieces and nephews, an ample supply of cousins, and her goddaughters Casandra Hauge (Fergus Falls) and Angela Hunnel (Lake Park, MN.)

To honor her wishes, Marybeth’s body has been donated to science and no services were held. May she rest in peace.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com