Mary Gonzales

Mary Fridge Gonzales, 62, passed away on June 25th, 2025, in Billings, Montana surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born on July 29th, 1962, in New London, Connecticut to Herbert E. Fridge and Winifred B. Fridge.

Mary spent most of her childhood growing up in Mystic, CT with her four siblings, Ann, Joan, Jane, and John. Mary had a rich imagination which she shared with her sister Joan. Many of these conversations would result in outbursts of laughter. Mary shared her love of faith with her brother John that brought them closer together in her later years. Mary also shared her love for cooking with her sister Jane, particularly family Thanksgiving recipes. Each sibling had their own bond making their relationships special and unique.

Mary attended St. Bernard’s Parochial Secondary School in Montville, CT. She excelled in academics, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, and athletics, where she was an All-State athlete as well as captain of the cross country and track and field teams. By her Senior year, she ranked 13th in the state for long-distance running even though she only stood 5 feet tall. She was most recently inducted into the St. Bernard’s Hall of Fame for cross country. Upon graduation from secondary school in 1981, she received a senatorial nomination to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. However, she elected to attend the University of Connecticut where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and forestry in 1985. Her love of forestry and the outdoors brought her to the great state of Montana, where she met her first husband Melvin “Joe” Hagl Jr. They married in July of 1988. Mary worked as a silviculturist for the U.S. Forest Service on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Lewis and Clark, and Gallatin National Forests and worked as a GIS coordinator on the Hoosier and Custer National Forests. She retired from the U.S. Forest Service in the summer of 2021 after having worked just over 36 years.

Mary’s first marriage produced two children, Cassandra and Mikaela. With Cassandra, they shared the love of the Black Hills, the outdoors, and cooking. With Mikaela, they shared the love for animals, particularly Mary’s “grand-ferrets” and sharing Christmas cookie recipes. In September of 2001, Mary remarried to a friend from her early childhood years, Derek Gonzales. This marriage produced her third child, Natasha, who was an integral part in caring for her mother and father in their times of need. In her later years, Mary found her faith and essentially her third family with the members of the church, Fellowship Baptist in Lockwood. She was deeply devoted to her faith, living her life as a true servant of God. She was a woman who truly embodied dedication and excellence in every aspect of her life. Whether it was her professional pursuits, her commitment to serving her community through the church, her faith, or her personal battles, she approached them all with remarkable strength and determination. Her fight with cancer was no exception. She faced this difficult time with incredible courage, inspiring those around her with her unwavering resilience and spirit. Mary’s ability to navigate such challenging circumstances with grace and dignity was a testament to the accomplished and remarkable person she was.

Mary is survived by her husband of 23 years, Derek; her daughters Cassandra (Scott) Cleveringa, Mikaela (Tanner) Mostad, and Natasha Gonzales; her four (soon-to-be five) grandchildren Kyleigh, Brantley, Sawyer, and Finn; and her siblings Joan, Jane, and John.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Winifred, and her sister, Ann.

The family of Mary Gonzales wants to express their deepest gratitude to the Inpatient Cancer Care unit and The Infusion Center at Billings Clinic. We are so incredibly thankful for the profound care and unwavering respect shown to Mary during such a challenging and vulnerable time. Mary truly appreciated and cared deeply for each person who cared for her during her 2-year long battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life for Mary will take place on Sunday, July 13th at 3 p.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Lockwood.