Marietta Besse Hardy, 97, of Austin, Minn., died Friday evening at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin.

Marietta was born Oct. 25, 1915, in Quincy, Ill., the daughter of Walter and Mabel (Besse) Tucker. She received her education in Quincy, graduating from Quincy High School in 1932, and continued her education at colleges in Missouri and Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1936. Following her graduation, Marietta taught school until her marriage to Willard Hardy on June 12, 1937. The couple moved to Austin in 1937, for Willard’s teaching job. After moving to Austin, Marietta worked as a substitute teacher as well as hosting a radio show for KATE. She enjoyed music, played violin and taught music lessons for violin and voice. She also sang solos and played in the Austin Symphony Orchestra and enjoyed the Symphony Study Group. She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, WELCA, the Floral Club and a long-time volunteer at the American Red Cross. Marietta also enjoyed gardening and traveling. Willard died in August 1994. She continued to make her home in Austin, moving to the Sacred Heart Assisted Living in 2008.

Survivors include four children, Judith Gale (Eugene) Hildreth of Prior Lake, Minn., Kathryn (Dale) Mundt of Apple Valley, Minn., Jean (Joe) Rysavy of Rochester, Minn., and John (Peggy) Hardy of Richfield, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Todd Portinga, AIM, officiating. Interment will follow the service at Grandview Cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Friday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Memorials may be given to the Austin Symphony Orchestra or the ELCA Disaster Response Fund or to the donor’s choice. The Worlein Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.