Mary Meek
May 30, 1925 ~ April 26, 2009
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at the Hyde County Auditorium in Highmore with Deacon Bud Jetty officiating. Burial followed in the Highmore City Cemetery. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2009 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the Luze Funeral Home in Highmore.
Mary Edith Mason was born at home in Holabird, SD on May 30, 1925 to Frank and Martha Halvorson Mason. She was the fourth of six daughters and seven sons. Mary grew up in Holabird a tomboy and could swing on the gates at the stockyards as well as anyone in Hyde County history.
Mary attended grade school at Holabird. The family moved to Highmore in 1939 where she attended high school and graduated at the age of 16 in 1942. Mary had great ambitions and went to work in the cafes earning a dollar per day, which she says "was big money". After saving enough money she moved to Spokane, WA to work in the Naval Depot only to learn after arriving that you had to be 18. She worked in more cafes to save money to return home. Instead, she saw an ad in the newspaper stating that they would train multiplex operators to work for Western Union in Sioux City, IA. Mary saved her money and arrived there, attended school and was hired by Western Union during war time. While working for Western Union, Mary traveled to San Francisco and Cleveland. When the war ended, Mary returned to Highmore.
Mary met and later married her husband of 61 years, Floyd Meek on July 3, 1947. Floyd’s proposal was quick and to the point “I need a good cook”. She probably said “I am, and yes I will”. They moved to Floyd’s house 7 miles south of Holabird. The plaster had fallen off the ceiling but he had gotten that patched up. No running water, no electricity. They had a wind charger so when the wind blew they had electricity. But it didn’t seem to matter to Mary as they had each other.
To this union four children were born, Delmas, Peggy Sell, Jane (Bill) Dunbar and Charles. When all four kids were in high school, Mary got a job with DJ Cline as a bookkeeper, later working for Drew Wright, the telephone company, and for the last 20 years doing books for Jerry and Janice Vlcek at the grocery store. Together they lived on their farm until 2005 when Mary said, Floyd could no longer get on the tractor so they moved to Highmore.
Anyone who knew Mary understood that she wasn't afraid of hard work, taking care of her duties as a farm wife, helping raise her children and grandchildren and "occasionally" giving you her two cents. She was loved and looked up to by many including her four grandchildren, Leslie Torpe, Keith (Josie) Meek, Jennifer (Brooke) Leighty and Jim (Erin) Dunbar, who share fond memories of bubble gum blowing contests, face painting with Mary Kay makeup, summers in Holabird, trips to the casino and getting their first quilts made by Grandma. She even passed on her fun to her 11 great grandchildren, Teasha, Teah and Tennae born to Leslie, Daulton and Kaycee Jo born to Jennifer, Kyran, Kylar and Kamryn born to Keith and Tate, Hadley and Keegan born to Jim.
Mary enjoyed her years with 4-H, bowling, and the Red Hats. She also loved to make quilts and has a stash to prove it.
Mary was preceded in death by her son, Charles, parents Frank and Martha Mason, sisters Eloise Ruark, Margaret Rittel, Ila Crain, Evelyn Stoley, brothers, George, Robert, James, Raymond, Donald, Russel and Art.
Survivors include her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister, Phyllis Daleske, numerous nieces and nephews, and an enormous wealth of very good friends.
Family, friends, and neighbors will miss stopping in for a chat, impromptu trips to the casino, going fishing, always having enough food to feed an army and yes, "occasionally" getting her two cents worth.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Mary's arrangements.
MINSTER
Deacon Bud Jetty
CASKETBEARERS
Keith Meek
Jim Dunbar
Jim Stoley
Doug Knox
Danny Knox
Neil Daleske
ORGANIST
Katherine Hieb
MUSICIANS
Frankie Rinehart
"Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
"Precious Memories"
Bob Bawdon
"On Eagle's Wings"
USHERS
Jerry DuBois
Jerry Vlcek
GUEST BOOK
Bernie Knox
Linda DuBois
FLOWERBEARER
Mary Knox
READER
Dwight Gutzmer
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Mary was a great person with a beautiful soul. She was always a neighborhood “reference” whenever you had a question about something she knew the answer! We will miss you Mary.
Mary was a one of a kind.Was always fun to visit with.Will miss her e-mails and good jokes. She will be missed . Our Sympathy goes to the family . Nancy and Steve
Our deepest sympathy in the loss of Mary. She was indeed a great lady, respected by all the nieces and nephews in Fred and Nina’s family. We loved her too.
We will miss Mary. She was a great part of the neighborhood. It won’t be the same without her.
Floyd and family. Sorry to hear of Mary’s passing. Didn’t know Mary well but what a nice lady she was. Will never forget picking corn one fall for Floyd. He took me in for dinner and she didn’t know I’d be there. She was so embarassed. All they were having was “leftovers”, but I never enjoyed leftovers so much as that day visiting with Mary & Floyd. GOD Bless Her and All Who Loved Her.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Mary has been the matriarch of our family for most of my life… she has lovingly kept track of each of us and we have all been blessed with her “occasional” 2 cents worth. 🙂 Whoever wrote her obituary… thanks… you truly captured her in your words. Love you all!
Peggy, You and your family have our deepest sympathy. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sandra and Grant
To Peggy and family, we extend our deepest sympathy. Your mother sounds like an amazing and fun-loving woman, to say nothing of hard working and somebody who loved her family. Our sincere condolences. Thinking of you Peggy.
Dear Floyd and family, I will always cherish “Ice Cream Cone Mary” as my family called her, because Mary always had an ice cream cone for us when we visited. With my grandparents Wayne and Roberta DuBois just living down the road and around the corner, we saw Mary and Floyd almost every time we visited.
Floyd and Family, We will miss “Grandma” Mary so very much with all her wisdom and ‘two cents worth’. Our prayers are with the Meek Family at this time.
Ken, Sandy & Shawn
I am sorry about the passing of your mother. Please accept my sympathies and know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Highmore won’t be the same without her friendly face!
One of my favorites and a real example of what a South Dakota lady should be. Janey will miss her table talks. Love you Floyd.
Floyd and family
We are so sorry about your loss. Mary was a special lady and she will be deeply missed by all
Joey and Peg
Floyd, Delmas, Peg, and Janey. I wish you all the strength to keep on going. Your mom was such a special lady. I especially remember early years with 4-H, school functions, cattle working, Harvest time with mowing and sialage cutting, wheat wacking, etc. She always made sure the workers were taken care of. When I was laying in the hospital down in Nebraska, it was Mary that drove down there with my sister Cheryl. She was always there to help in any way she could. She will be deeply missed.
Dear Delmas and family….
I am so sorry to hear about the
loss of your Mom. Mom’s cannot be
replaced. She will live in your heart forever so she will never
be gone.
Sincerest condolences, Rhonda Shields, Wenberg
Leslie and Keith,
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Dan, Heather, Skylar, Storm, River, and Ryder King
Dear Delmos, Peggy and Janie,
I was so saddened to hear of your Mom passing. She was a spunky lady with a great smile. May you have lots of memories to cherish and good times to remember. You are in my prayers.
Cheryl (Roseland) Blennert
Peggy, Sorry to hear that your mom passed away. It is always hard to lose your mom. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Nancy
Wonderful memories, you were a gift to all who knew and loved you and I am one who was blessed to have known you and shared whatever time we were able to share. While there are tears in your leaving there is joy and love and a thankful heart in the memories.