Funeral services for Mary A. Holzwarth, age 102, of Watertown, SD, formerly Hazel, SD, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at Kellerton United Methodist Church in rural Hazel.  Pastor Rae Speiser will officiate.  Music will be provided by Nona Clifford as organist, Janet Struckman as pianist, Keith James as soloist, and a duet will be sung by Luke and Kim Holzwarth.  Mary passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2010, at a care center in Watertown.  She was the widow of Albert S. Holzwarth.

     Burial will be at Kellerton-Zion Cemetery, rural Hazel, SD.  Honorary pallbearers will be Mary’s granddaughters: Tracy Holzwarth, Linda Johnson, Robin Roegner, Leah Holzwarth, Mary Holzwarth, and Carmen Rives.  Active pallbearers will be Mary’s grandsons: Jeff Holzwarth, Todd Holzwarth, Terry Holzwarth, Peter Holzwarth, Scott Stoll, Eric Holzwarth, Luke Holzwarth, and Alex Holzwarth.

     Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and in the church prior to services on Thursday.  The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 1:30 p.m. for a prayer service.

     The family requests that memorials be directed to Kellerton-Zion Cemetery or to a mission of your choice.

     Mary was born on October 13, 1907, the seventh of eleven children of Edward and Rosa (Robish) Feind, at their humble farm home near Hazel, SD, in a community known as Kellerton.  She attended Opdahl #2 elementary school and graduated from Hazel High School in 1925.  She received her teaching certificate from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1927.  She taught at Henry, SD from 1927 to 1929 and Brantford #2 from 1929 to 1931. 

     On June 12, 1928, Mary married Albert Holzwarth in her parents’ home at Hazel, SD.  The couple farmed near Hazel from 1929 to 1972.  To this union five children were born.

     She was an active member of the Kellerton United Methodist Church.  Mary was recognized for her Christian witness to the church serving on the evangelism committee, and as a youth leader, Sunday school teacher, and leader of Bible study groups.  She served as United Methodist officer, spiritual advisor, and unit delegate.  Her passion was missions, setting the example of sacrificial giving, spiritual tithing, and prayer.  The South Dakota Conference of the UMW had recognized her as one of South Dakota’s ‘Women in Mission’.

     Mary was an avid supporter of 4-H, serving as a leader.  She supported 4-H camps as well as church camps.  In 1959, she was recognized for her work with PTA, serving as district vice-president and state program resource development chairperson.  She was state delegate to National PTA conference, where her program work was accepted and published in the National PTA magazine.  She was instrumental in bringing the hot lunch program to the Hazel school.

     In 1953, Mary returned to teaching by renewing her certificate at Dakota State College.  She taught at Thomas Elementary from 1953 to 1957 and Hazel Elementary from 1957 to 1972.  Mary was more than a teacher.  She was a friend, counselor, and inspiration to her students.

     Mary was selected as a ‘Merit Mother’ for South Dakota, in 1975, and received the judge’s award for outstanding contributions in the field of religion.  In 1989, she was nominated for the ‘Spirit of Dakota’ award.

     Albert suffered a disabling stroke in 1972, requiring her to give him continuous care for the next 22 years.  He passed away in 1994.  Mary continued to live on the family farm until 1995, when she moved to 200 Maple Place in Watertown and finally entering Golden Living Center-Watertown in 2005.

     She was an avid reader and loved poetry, flower gardens, playing Scrabble, sporting events, and Twins baseball.  Mary was known as a walker and believed strongly in exercising.  A sports fan, she was always at every baseball, football, and basketball game and encouraged good sportsmanship.

     Establishing a Christian environment for her children was a primary goal of Mary’s.  Her children knew Christ was number one and most important part of living.

     Mary is survived by her five children: Harvey (Theone) Holzwarth of Pierre, SD, June (Keith) James of Hazel, SD, Dr. David (Marilyn) Holzwarth of Yankton, SD, Carolyn (William “Bill”) Stoll of Olympia, WA, and Robert (Beth) Holzwarth of Hazel, SD; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; seven  step-great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, six brothers, and four sisters.