Mary Ann Menssen

Mary Ann Menssen age 86, of Saint James, Minnesota died on November 10, 2023, at Living Meadows at Luther, Madelia in Madelia, Minnesota.

Visitation will be on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the East Sveadahl Lutheran Church.

Service will be held at the East Sveadahl Lutheran Church, on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:00 am.

The clergy will be Rev. Mandy France. Interment will be at the East Sveadahl Lutheran Cemetery in Saint James, Minnesota.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James, Minnesota.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Mary Ann (Engel) Menssen, photo taken at her 86th Birthday Party at Brand Ridge, St. James, MN.

Mary Ann (Engel) Menssen passed away peacefully November 10th, 2023 at Living Meadows in Madelia, MN.

Mary Ann (Engel) Menssen was born February 26th, 1937 to Vera (Berhman) and Willian Engel. She grew up on a farm near Madelia and attended school in Madelia until her senior year when she transferred and graduated from Nicollet High School on 1955. She nannied for a wonderful family on a farm outside of Nicollet and she felt very blessed because they treated her so well and always made her feel like family. She totally enjoyed watching the four Dallmann girls grow up. Lana, Wanda, Etta, and Lila, along with their mother Phyllis were very special to her. After high school, she lived and worked in the Twin Cities at 3M until she moved back to St. James where she worked at Sward Kemp until she became an at home mom to raise her three boys. Once her children were grown she went back to work as a cook at the nursing home in St. James.

Mary Ann and Don were members of East Sveadahl church and she always enjoyed the many ladies events and was always willing to work in the kitchen. Mary Ann had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. She was a strong and courageous woman and always had a positive attitude and a smile on her face. Mary Ann loved adventure and always being on the go. She loved playing cards in multiple card groups and never liked to miss a Wednesday night Bingo game at the Legion. She was a master at hardanger and has many beautiful pieces that she has given to her family and friends that they will cherish always. She loved watching her children and grandchildren play sports and was their number one fan in the stands, rarely missing an event.

Mary Ann and Donald loved to dance. They met at a dance hall in Springfield, where they fell in love and married on June 25, 1961. In June of 2011, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a special family dinner. They raised three sons and opened their hearts and home to many foster children. Mary Ann and Don loved to travel and enjoyed many trips across the country as well as two trips to Germany to visit relatives. They loved to get out of the MN cold and spend their winters in Mission, TX. They traveled south for 15 years and developed many lifelong friendships with their Texas family.

Mary Ann is survived by her sons, Gary (Sharon), Michael, Billy (Melanie) all of St. James; four sister in laws, Darlene Ebbenga of Butterfield, Gayle McCleod of Sioux Falls, SD, Beverly Menssen of St. James, Jenny Menssen of Estherville, IA; six grand kids, Christopher (Marissa), Brandon (Karen), Ryan (fiancé' Emily), Dustin, Anna (fiancé' Gonzalo), Racheal (Ryan); 12 great grand kids, Stratton, Brek, Adler, Renley, Natalie, Hunter, Katie, Dakota, Gavin, Skyler, Grayson, Aviana Rose and many nieces and nephews whom she adored.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four sisters, one brother and twin great granddaughters.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials that can be sent to the American Cancer Society or East Sveadahl church.