She served in several capacities, becoming National President of the American Home Economists Association (Washington, DC) in 1976. In 1988 she and her co-chair planned and hosted the International Federation for Home Economics for over 1400 worldwide representatives. She represented USA home economists at several international gatherings. She was named one of the 100 Outstanding Leaders in the field of Home Economics by the National Association. MaryEllen was the first woman elected to MN School District 621 Board of Education. She was a founding board member of Special Intermediate School District 916 (Suburban vocational and technical schools). She was appointed by the Governor to the Department of Human Rights, Women's Division and served on President Kennedy's Council on the Status of Women. MaryEllen was active with her sorority and many other civic groups. Regents of the University of Minnesota awarded MaryEllen an Outstanding Achievement Award in 1977. MaryEllen cared deeply about family. She sent hand written notes well into her last year. She adopted friends' children as family and sent books, valentines, and birthday notes and dollars. MaryEllen is survived by her children, Susan (Tim) Hooper of Boone, IA, and Michael (Holly) McFarland of Columbia, MD; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren ; sister-in -law Joan Stanek of Austin, MN. Many nieces, nephews, and their families and "adopted" family friends. She was preceded in death by husband Keith; brother and sister-in-law Fred and Helen Hanson of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Paul Hays. MaryEllen will be interred at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota with a family service at that time. Memorials may be sent to McFarland New Horizons Fund (#1511), University of Minnesota Foundation, PO Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486, or Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 W. County Rd.C2, Roseville, MN 55113. To read the full obituary, please click here: http://www.schroedermemorialchapel.com/obituaries/Mary-Ellen-McFarland?obId=2936345#/obituaryInfo