FT. PIERRE, SD –

Mary Anderson, 93, of Fort Pierre, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Family will greet visitors from 1:00-2:00pm, Friday, January 3, 2025 at Feigum Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will begin at 2:00pm, Friday, January 3, 2025 at Feigum Funeral Home with inurnment following at Scotty Philip Cemetery in Fort Pierre.

Mary was born on June 12, 1931 in Tabor, South Dakota, to James and Mary (Soukup) Kubal. In 1948 she married Nels Anderson and together they had two sons, David (born in 1950) and Duane (born in 1956). Mary’s true pride and joy came from raising her sons and watching them grow into wonderful men.

In 1969 Mary & Nels purchased a home in Fort Pierre, where she would live for 55 years. She dedicated herself to maintaining her home, a beautiful garden, and dozens of tomato plants. Her home was always welcoming and she remained fiercely independent, living life on her own terms.

Mary’s love for cooking was well-known and she could whip up a meal anywhere, from a cook trailer for a construction crew to serving family and friends countless delicious meals around her table. She could cook just about anything, but she was famous for her pancakes. Day or night, young or old, she would click the light on above the stove top, grab the cast iron pans, the Crisco, and the pancake flour. As the pans warmed, her loving hands would whisk the batter and water, while her visitors, family or friends settled into their chairs. The same plates she served meals on for 50+ years would come out of the cupboard and rest on the plastic placemats. While she sipped her warm tea, she would always ask about her visitors’ lives, showing genuine interest in what was happening with others, while listening intently. If she was on a roll cooking for lots of visitors, she was sure to set the smoke alarm off. Her visitors always knew how to shut the alarm off, all while giggling about the situation.

Mary was the matriarch of her family, bringing everyone together for weekend gatherings and large reunions. She cherished these moments with her family and was the glue that kept them connected. Her journal entries narrated the events of her life and she enjoyed reading back over those entries and reminiscing the years gone by. As much as she was kind, Mary also had a competitive spirit; especially when it came to playing the card game 31. She was known for being a stickler for the rules, as well as her generosity in making sure everyone had quarters to play.

In her later years, Mary found enjoyment in playing video lottery at her favorite casinos around Pierre and Fort Pierre, referring to it as her “part-time job.” Known for her luck, she would track her wins and losses daily, always taking breaks when her balance dipped too low and returning when the time felt right.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Nels and ten of her siblings: Charles, Blanche, Dorothy, John, James, Laddie, Delores, Stella, Robert, and Charlene. She was also preceded by her daughters-in-law Donnette and SueAne and her dear companion Willie Foster. She is survived by her sister Hattie Flynn, her sons David and Duane, as well as her many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Grandma Mary had a way of making every moment special, whether through her laughter, her stories or her simple presence. Her love, kindness and care will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her. We will forever miss her.

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