Mary Caffee

Mary L. Caffee, 82, of Miller and formerly of St. Lawrence, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at home surrounded by her family. 

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Miller on June 4, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Will Page, officiating.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials be directed to Hands of Hope or Sunbeam Cemetery Fund.

Mary Louise Resch was born December 11, 1939, to Thomas and Emma (Stanger) Resch in St. Paul, MN.  The family moved to Vancouver, WA for a short time before moving to Richmond, CA where Mary was raised and attended school, graduating from Richmond High School in 1957.  She met a young sailor from South Dakota, Raymond Caffee Jr., and the two fell madly in love, were married on December 14, 1957, and enjoyed 64 years of togetherness.  Upon Raymond’s discharge from the Navy, the couple and their first son moved to South Dakota where they made their home and raised their family of two sons and two daughters.  Though uncertain at first, Mary adjusted to rural life, and never wanted to live anywhere but Hand County. 

Throughout her life she worked at a variety of jobs including census taker, Miller Press correspondent, school aide, greenhouse, Ronmar, and secretary for Community Health.  She was a member of First Baptist Church, Miller and was active in the women’s group and other church activities.  She enjoyed building jigsaw puzzles, crocheting Christmas tree skirts for all of her family members, and baking—especially overnight buns for family events, cookies for anyone who stopped in for a visit, and hard cinnamon candy for Christmas.  Mary adored her family, including her grandchildren who affectionately called her “Grammy.”

Mary is survived by her husband, Raymond “Stub” Caffee Jr.; children: Ray (Tammy) Caffee, Miller, David (Kathryn) Caffee, Sturgis, KY, Shelly (Curt) Trego, Watertown, SD, Kimberly (Robb) Johnson, Henry, SD;  12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren: Naomi (Jon Isaac) Caffee, Vance (Jennie) Caffee and sons: Nolan, Ivan, Logan and Rhys, Hannah Caffee; Cassandra (Jarrad) Morelock and daughter, Elliott, Melissa (Ben) O’Neil and sons: Zachary and Jesse, Michael (Melanie) Caffee and children: Cozette, Jude, and Ezra; Samantha Caffee; Krista (Adam) Peterka, Jackie (Sam) Dooyema and son, Josiah, Mitch Trego, Taylor (Jayson) Good, Ian Johnson;  siblings: Thomas Resch, William Resch, Robert (Alice Marie) Resch, Alice Mulkey, Jeannette Resch, Kathy Saunders, and Betty (John) Holley; and by numerous nieces, nephews and friends. 

She was preceded in death by great-granddaughter, Hannah Violet Dooyema; sisters-in-law, Sue Resch, Lois Resch, Bonnie Resch; brothers-in-law: Neal Mulkey and Ernie Saunders; and her parents.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Mary's arrangements.