Mary C. Blake, 93, formerly of Luverne, died Sat., Jan. 19, 2008 at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer?s disease. Mary Christensen and her twin brother Albert were born to Jasper and Serena (Peterson) Christensen on Oct. 30, 1914, in Kanaranzi Township. They moved to Luverne in 1920. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1932 and Augustana College in 1936. Mary taught in South Dakota and Minnesota prior to WWII and in Miami, FL for 28 years after WWII. During the war she taught at the Escola Tecnica de Aviacoa in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She married Gerald Murphy in 1949. Gerald died in 1974. In 1975 Mary married E. A. ?Doc? Blake and moved back to Luverne. ?Doc? died in 1982. Mary continued to spend her summers in Luverne but enjoyed winters in Mesa, AZ until 2003. She lived in Luverne until 2005 when she moved to Sioux Falls. Mary enjoyed traveling, visiting the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Antarctica, Scandinavia, Ireland, Russia, and many other places throughout the U.S. and the world. She also enjoyed golfing and walking, playing bridge, and working crossword puzzles. She loved penguins and colorful novelty socks. Mary was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Luverne and the Ladies Circle, and Victory Lutheran Church of Mesa, AZ. She is survived by her nephew, Joel (Linda) Christensen, Sioux Falls, SD; her nieces, Karen (Jim) Kullnat, Pendleton, OR; and Margaret (Dan) Christensen-Freese, Plymouth; and her cousins, Astrid Holmquist and Alice Campbell, as well as her extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; brothers, Albert and Magnus; and sister, Esther Thomas.