On March 18, Mary Prail, a longtime resident of Janesville, will officially turn 90 years old, marking nearly a century of life defined by hard work, deep faith, and an unwavering devotion to her family.
The celebration of this remarkable event has already begun. On March 1st, Mary shared a pre-birthday meal of lasagna, salad, and her favorite chocolate cake with her grandchildren, Jacob and Amber, and was later joined by her daughter Sallie and son-in-law Michael. It is a scene typical for Mary, who has spent the better part of her life as the “second mom” to many, ensuring every birthday was remembered and every visitor was well-fed.
Born in 1936 as Mary Jane Perkins, she grew up in Westby, Wisconsin, one of seven siblings. Her childhood was the quintessential “back in my day” experience: living out in the country, sledding down snowy hills, and walking two miles to school until eventually taking a bus in ninth grade. These early years of life in rural Wisconsin are remembered fondly by Prail, “We played outside often while the adults played cards inside, ” Mary recalls with a smile. She tells stories of pushing an old, non-running car up the hill just to let it roll back down, praying they wouldn’t “get smushed” in the process. There were games of hide-and-seek by the chicken house—where she once accidentally broke a window and feared the parental fallout—and memories of her brother Pete’s infamous run-in with the family rooster.
After graduating in 1954 in a class of 74 students, Mary took a leap of faith. Motivated by an ad in a newspaper, she hopped a bus to Minneapolis to work as a caretaker for youth at Shriners Hospital. Living in the dorms, she worked at Shriners for three years and planned to pursue a career in therapy, but life had other plans in the form of a ballroom dance.
Mary met Reuben Prail at the Prom Ballroom. It was a whirlwind romance; they dated and married shortly after on June 23, 1957. The couple settled on the Prail family farm three miles south of Janesville.
Farm life was demanding. Before they could go out for the evening, there were always chores to be done. Mary helped manage the dairy and beef cattle as well as chickens and pigs. Her philosophy was simple: “Eat a good meal and you can really work.” She became known for her meat-and-potatoes cooking, always ensuring the hired help and her family were well-nourished.
Her faith was her anchor during these years. A longtime member of Trinity Lutheran, Prail served on the Ladies Aid and the County Extension group. Her raisin oatmeal cookies became a legendary staple at church bake sales, selling out almost instantly.
The family’s strength was tested in late 1992 when a tragic accident occurred in the cow barn. Reuben suffered a severe head injury and fell into a coma. “I stayed by his side the whole time,” Prail said. When he finally woke almost a month later, he had to relearn how to walk. Mary was his constant motivator, walking beside him every step of the way. Though the accident changed his personality, Mary’s care never wavered. She cared for him at home for 18 years before he moved to a care facility in 2010. Reuben passed away in 2016, just shy of their 59th anniversary.
Mary eventually moved off the family farm and found a small home in Janesville across from Veterans Memorial Park. It’s there that provides her an ideal front row seat for the many goings on like Songs in the Park, the Hay Daze parade, National Night Out, and the vibrant decorations spurred on by spring and patriotic holidays.
When asked if she plans to celebrate her 90th birthday by skydiving or white-water rafting, Mary laughs. “My feet are going to stay on the ground.” However, her ground-based travel is legendary. An avid lover of new cars, Prail enjoys driving her sleek, white Cadillac. Last year, for her 89th birthday, she insisted on driving it from the shop in Waterville all the way back home—she even backed it into the garage herself, too. She plans to be behind the wheel again this year, driving around to look at the crops; a subtle reminder of a lifelong tradition with her husband Reuben—a farm girl at heart, always.
With six daughters (Susan, Sallie, Connie, Nancy, Renae, and Rita), 15 biological grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren, Prail’s house is never quiet for long. While Nancy lives in Connecticut, most of the family remains in the area, a testament to the home Mary built.
On March 14, the family will gather for a major celebration. All six of her daughters will be present to honor the woman who never missed a piano lesson, school function, or birthday. As she looks back on nine decades, Mary offers simple, profound wisdom for the next generation:
“Take your vitamins, pray, take life one day at a time, and love to the fullest.”
Parties interested in sending birthday cards or pleasantries to Mary can be sent to PO Box 579
Janesville MN 56048.
