Mary Oberg Hanf was born in Biwabik on the Minnesota Iron Range. Her grandparents came from Finland in the early 1900's. In Mary's own words:

"My parents' first language was Finnish and Finnish was spoken in my home every day. However, it was a secret language. In my 40's, I started to learn Finnish and today I can converse and make mistakes with the best of them. I have had a life long interest in music. Thanks to the money coming from taconite production in the 50-60's, the Biwabik school had a well funded music program. I started playing the trumpet in 3rd grade and was quickly switched to the baritone horn as there was a need for baritones in the band. As a jr. high and high school student, I marched in the band every summer. We traveled around the Range and Duluth playing for celebrations. For the last 10 years, I have traveled north with my baritone and marched once a year in the Biwabik Alumni Band on 4th of July.

Closer to home in Bayport, I am a member of the Century College Community Band during the school year and the Shoreview Northern Light Varity Band in the summer. I love the voice of the baritone in march and concert music. Plus, all the fun people sit in the back row. The primary folk music I heard as a child was Slovanian. Biwabik is the home of many famous and talented Slovanian button box players. They played at all the weddings and dances. I heard Finnish music in my parents' and grandparents' home, but I did not focus on it until later in my life. I became interested in the bass about 5 years ago. I wanted to play a string instrument but was not interested in the fiddle. All those years of being in the back of the band and hearing the low voices attracted me to the bass. Besides, there are so many fewer notes to learn. Margaret Norling was my first bass teacher, and to top it off she lent me a bass. This was a rare aluminum bass. It needed new strings and a few adjustments but it got me started. I decided to play the bass by ear. That decision gave me a new skill and made me a more versatile player. I played with anyone who would let me including the Button Box Club in Glencoe. Thank god for those patient players and great musicians. I then got the job of playing with Dennis Halme for the Kisarit Dance Group for rehearsal. Playing every week strengthened my chops and on occasion I would subsitute for Margaret in the Finn Hall band. I also play a little Klezmer music and love to play old standards and sing a bit. This spring I became the Finn Hall bass player after Margaret's passing. I have some great red shoes to fill and enjoy adding my own touches to the music."