Mary Stevicks

Funeral services for Mary Stevicks were held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating.

Music was provided by Geoff Smith, soloist, accompanied by Melanie Hannahs, organist. Karli McCance was in charge of registration, and flower attendants were Patricia King and Nadine Utigard.

Casket bearers were Steve McCance, Danny Vavra, Roy King, Verlyn King, Mike Remter, and Roy Allen Stevicks.

Interment was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Evelyn Stevicks was born July 27, 1926, on the family farm south of Colome, SD, to Thomas and Mae (Laird) Nixon. She was the youngest of five children. Mary attended Nixon Elementary School, a block from the farm, where she completed her eighth grade education.

Mary helped on the farm until WWII started. She then moved to Oregon, where she worked in the shipyards as a steel worker. After the war, she moved to Bonesteel, SD, where she worked in a restaurant and met Melvin Stevicks. They were married March 2, 1946. Melvin and Mary lived north of Dallas, SD, where they enjoyed farming, ranching, and raising their two children, Audrey and Tom.

Mary was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church at Dixon on March 28, 1956. When the church closed, they became members of St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD.

In her younger days, Mary enjoyed going to Mel’s baseball games, where she was the main score keeper. Mel and Mary went square dancing most Saturday nights because Grandpa “Lee” played the fiddle. There was never a babysitter - the kids always went along.

Mary was a wonderful homemaker and an independent spirit with a heart of gold. She was a great cook, especially her cinnamon rolls. The family often gathered at Mel and Mary’s for holiday dinners. Mary loved needle crafts, gardening, caring for her cats, and fishing at “Mel’s hole.”

In her later years Mary enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing cribbage with Tom every morning. She was an avid reader and spent a lot of time looking out the kitchen window at the beauty of God’s creation.

Mary was still on the farm until June 2021 when her health started to decline. She moved to Avera Rosebud Country Care Center, where she passed away on February 28, 2022, at the age of 95.

Preceding Mary in death are her parents; husband Melvin; one sister Lilah; three brothers, Stanley, Roland, and Harvey; and one greatgrandson Robert Hanssen.

Mary is survived by her son Thomas (Mary) Stevicks; daughter Audrey Redal; grandchildren: Tanya (Richard) Hanssen, Wendi Collins, David (Sara) Stevicks, and Kirk Redal (Aleka); eight great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.