Mary Sawatzky

Mary Sawatzky, age 82, of St. James died on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Mayo Clinic Health Services- St. James. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Monday, March 26, 2012, at St. James Catholic Church in St. James with Fr. Thien Nguyen as celebrant. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in St. James. Visitation will be Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Sturm Funeral Home in St. James from 4:30PM until 8:00 PM with a 4:00 PM Rosary. Visitation will also be one hour before services at the church on Monday. Mary Josephine Bird was born March 20, 1930 at Hartley, Iowa, the daughter of Michael Carrie (Virgil) Bird. She, and her family, moved to Minnesota when she was 5 years old. Mary attended Dist. 41 rural school near Butterfield, then she attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Madelia through the 8th grade, graduating from Madelia High School. She then went to Cosmopolitan Beauty School. In 1949, Mary married Delbert Ringheim. In 1970, she married Sid Voge, who died in a construction accident, and in 1975 she married Pete Sawatzky. She and Pete made their home on the Sawatzky farm near Butterfield. Mary worked as a housekeeper, worked at Montgomery Wards, Tony Downs and Butterfield Foods as a nurse. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxillary, Butterfield Garden Club, and Senior Citizens. She enjoyed reading, crafts and spending time with family and friends. She is survived by her children; Richard (Cathy) Bird of St. James, Marvin Ringheim of Fort Worth, TX, Penny (Randy) Callander of South Haven, Robin (Joe) Hanson of Henderson, NV, son-in-law; Randy Siem of Litchfield, sister; Dorothy (Ronald) Sewing of Klamath Falls, OR, 9 grandchildren; Kim Behrens, Patrice Isdahl (Chris Picha), John Behrens, Kari (Troy) Mozey, Kris Peterson, Sherry Siem, Shelly (Jeff) Molitor, Christopher Hanson (Tara St. Germain), Lance Hanson, 15 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Delbert Ringheim, Sidney Voge, Peter Sawatzky, her parents, daughter, Linda Siem, brother, James Bird, sister, Neva Johnson and brother-in-law, Orville Johnson. Visitation 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday, March 25, 2012 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James 906 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 10:30 am Monday, March 26, 2012 St. James Catholic Church 707 4th Street S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081