Born in 1931 in Oklahoma, Mary lived through the Great Depression as a child and experienced World War II as a teenager. Her father owned a gas station in Stillwater, home of Oklahoma A&M (later Oklahoma State University) where her brother and his best friend, Hubert Teufel, worked. Mary and Hubert became good friends and fell in love. After marriage and college graduation, Hubert and Mary moved to Fort Meade, South Dakota, in the early 1950's where Hubert worked for the Veterans Administration. In the early 1960's, Hubert began working for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he had a successful career with multiple promotions, each of which required transfers to another state and provided a wide range of experiences for their family.

Mary and Hubert encouraged a love of learning in their three children with each completing college educations followed by successful careers. When Hubert retired, they purchased an RV and explored most of the continental 48 states and numerous national parks. Mary enjoyed swimming, sewing, playing bridge, and reading mystery novels. She was vibrant and outgoing, striking up conversations with strangers and developing many new friendships in their travels. After Hubert passed away in 2010, Mary continued her positive outlook on life until her death on December 30, 2025, at age 94.