Mary Christopherson
December 14, 1950 ~ April 18, 2012
Mary Christopherson, 61, of Miller, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller from pancreatic cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 21, 2012 at St. Annâs Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester Murtha, celebrant. Burial followed at St. Annâs Cemetery, Miller. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2012 with a 6:30 p.m. rosary service and 7:00 p.m. scripture service, all at St. Annâs Catholic Church, Miller.
Mary Carol (Arth) Christopherson was born December 14, 1950, to Paul and Caroline (Fischer) Arth in Wahpeton, ND. Mary grew up on farms north of Cayuga and Geneseo, ND. She graduated valedictorian of her class in 1968 from St. Francis Academy, Hankinson, ND. She continued her education at Presentation College and Northern State University, graduating in 1972 with a Bachelors of Science degree in education.
Mary taught at Banner School in the Faulkton, SD, district from 1972 to 1975 and then in the Rice Lake School in the Highmore, SD, district from 1975 to 1976. From 1977 to 1980, she taught fourth grade in Milnor, ND, before moving to the Miller School District. Mary taught at Bates School and Mondamin before finally teaching in Miller until her retirement in 2010. Mrs. Câs students have commented on her good sense of humor and many songs, while their parents noted how much she helped and cared for her students.
On August 3, 1974, she was united in marriage to Randy Christopherson in Orient, SD. These complete opposite personalities shared their lives and had three talented children and five beautiful grandchildren. Matthew Carter was born March 29, 1977. He and his wife Amy have two children: RyLeigh Ann and Carter Dean. Michael Alan was born November 2, 1979. He and his wife Corinna have two children: Katelyn Marie and Emily Sue. Nicole Leigh was born March 14, 1981. She and her husband Joshua Biever have one daughter: Elizabeth Caroline.
Maryâs grandchildren were the light of her life. They loved the poems she wrote and the buns she baked for them. They all loved to dance and do projects together.
Mary was devoted to the Catholic faith, her patron saint, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the rosary. Her interests included dancing, baking, and collecting recipes and nativity sets. She cherished her friendships with fellow choir members and teachers.
She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, four brothers, and four sisters: Lawrence (Carol) Arth, Michael (Wava) Arth, Francis Arth, Marguerite (Don) Fauss, Thomas (Janet) Arth, Barbara (Steve) Melroe, Michele (Art) Gilbertsen, Denise Arth (Frank Racaniello); sisters-in-law, Mary Etta Arth and Theresa Arth; sister-in-spirit, Terice (Mark) Ketelhut, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Mary was adamant about having no flowers at her funeral. Instead, a handmade, wooden cross has been lovingly made by her nephew and godchild, Aaron Fauss, and placed on her casket.
In lieu of flowers, Mary requested memorials be directed to a local charity of your choice.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Maryâs arrangements.
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Although the years have carried on and I hate to count how many years ago she was my teacher when I heard of the passing of Mrs. C a flood of memories came to mind. I remember the red and blue pen she always used and even the way she corrected papers. She always had her nails painted so beautiful and the way her hair bounced when she walked. One could say it was almost a glide as graceful as she was. She was such an entergentic beautiful person that had a larger than life smile for all she greeted. She was such a kind person and made a great impact on so many young lives. I am a better person because Mrs. C was in my teacher. May the bells ring in heavan for this angel to receiver her wings.
Dear Matt, Amy, RyLeigh, Carter and extended family,
How our hearts go out to each of you in the loss of your beloved mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. We are so, so sorry for your loss of Mary. It is obvious that you all loved each other well. Our sympathy, love and prayers are certainly with you that you may truly know
the Lord’s comfort. Jon and Polly Damaska
Mary was such an amazing woman. She truly had the heart of an angel. Mary was a huge influence on me becoming a teacher and I would not be the person that I am today if it had not been for her encouragement throughout high school and after. Mary was like a mother to me for so many years. I will miss seeing her when I am back in Miller and getting her advice when I needed it during my teaching career. May God be with all of you as you remember her. She will always be with you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your families at this difficult time.
Mary will be remember by our family as she taught all three of our boys.
God Bless all,
Dawn Price and family
Randy & Family,
Our deepest condolences to all of you during this difficult time. It’s never easy losing your spouse, mother, & grandma. She was loved by many and will be missed by an entire community. May God wrap his loving arms around all of you. Know that Mary is now without pain and with all the angels in heaven.
Randy, Matthew, Michael and Nicole,
My heart is very sad today. I have so many fond memories of Mary. God must have needed a great teacher and a wonderful friend with him. I am keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
Donna
Terry and I send our sincere condolences to each of you . Mary was such a neat person , I first met her when Cindy Winter and I shared a teachers aid job at Bates and Mary was the teacher . She taught with such enthusiasm and was still that way years later when she taught our sons.
Heaven has gained a wonderful woman and we are so sorry that her family will be without her loving guidance and wisdom.
God Bless each and everyone of you.
Chrisopherson Family –
I feel so blessed to have had your mom in my life. After my dad died, Randy and Mary made sure my mom was and has been taken care of. Your family means the world to me. I will miss Mary very much.
Mike & Corrina,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. It is always difficult to lose a parent. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time.
Terry & Paula Spilde
My heart broke when I heard the news of Mary’s passing. She was a wonderful teacher for my children. She encouraged them to be independent. She was a wonderful asset to our church and will be missed. My prayers to all of you! The Ortmeier Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Randy & Family
So sorry to hear about Mary, but we must think that she is in a caring place and out of pain. I remember when you worked for us she was such a cheerful person and she will be missed by everyone. I know the road has not been an easy one, but Sorrow is memory of a happy yesterday, and memories live on and on while sorrows fade away in time. May all your memories lighten this time of sorrow and give you strength for each new tomorrow.
With Deepest Sympathy
Ellen Kay Wagner
So very sorry to hear of your loss. She will be greatly missed.
Nancy
To Randy and family
Please accept my deepest sympathies in your time of loss. She was and is a great person!
Regards,
Brandi Schlechter (Phinney)
To the Dear family of Mrs. C,
Thank you for sharing your wife & mom – she was my favorite teacher! I loved the creative writing projects she would have us work on – I probably still have some of them. I remember visiting her in the years that followed. Fond memories!
I am so very sorry for your loss. I pray that you will sense God’s presence and comfort as you grieve.
Jeannie Short
Your entire family is in my thoughts and prayers during this time of sadness.
I only met Mary a few times when she was in town visiting Nicole, but was touched by her enthusiasm for her family, life, and the Arts Festival! Oh, did she love to shop…I recall Josh having to pull the car up to retrieve packages and take them home while the ladies went back for round 2. And 3. And 4. đ
I remember her camping out at Nicole’s on numerous occasions to help out with painting and cleaning the new house, helping with the new baby…anytime she could help ease the burden of someone else, she seemed to do so happily. She made me feel like she’d known me my whole life after spending about two minutes with her.
Please let me know if there’s anything we can do to help out at home!
Stacey Vostad & Grace
Christopherson family,
Where do I beginâŚ..There are no words to tell you how I wish I could comfort you. I know how sad we are and can’t imagine your sorrow. I read this poem and wanted to share it. Mary had so much wonderful life in that dash!!
The Dash Poem
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth
For it matters not how much we own
The cars, the house, the cash
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash
I was lucky enough to work in the grade school while Mary taught (among many other great teachers) and I have SO many wonderful memoriesâŚI can still picture her in her dinosaur jumper made especially for âDinosaur Daysâ, a week where the kids did EVERYTHING dinosaur. I think she even wrote some dinosaur songs! No amount of work was too much to make learning more fun. Sure, they learned all about gravity, and percentages, and when to use ellipses but the things that really count and last you âtil youâre old, those are the things that we all learned in her room. How to be patient, to be nice to everyone, that weâre all created the same, to cherish the earth, that everyone has gifts to be used, not to push or shove, to sing so everyone can hear you, to say thank you and be happy with what you have, that you can do better if you try harderâŚonly a true teacher can make those lessons stick. Robert H Shaffer said about teaching; “We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.” If all those candles Mary lit were gathered together, the light would fill the sky.
Josh, Nicole, Elizabeth and extended family: Our deepest sympathy to you all at this time.
Becki and Larry Landgren
My family sends our deepest condolences to your family. Mrs. “C” worked wonders with my girls when we moved here. She was very patient and gave them the encouragement to suceed at everything they did. She will be missed dearly.
My heart is heavy in saying goodbye to my most incredible teacher. With Love, Robin
Randy and Family,
These are only a few words that remind me of Mrs. C.
Kind, loving, happy, energetic, and stern in a good way, warm friendly smile and a fast paced walk wherever she went. Working in her classroom the days flew by she made it fun to learn. Mary touched so many lives.
With Deepest Sympathy
Luke & Suzy
I am really sorry to here about Mary and her passing, she is good hands now and is watching over us all.
With My Deepest Sympathy, and you all are in my prayers.
God Bless
Katherine Molyneux Splichal