Mary E. Grabenstein

Mary E. Grabenstein, age 75, of Tabor, South Dakota, died Friday, January 17, 2025, at her home while on hospice and surrounded by family.

No local services will be held. Burial will be in the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.

Memorials may be directed to the Avera Foundation-Hospice.

Mary E. Grabenstein was born July 29, 1949, in Englewood, Colorado to Joseph and Evelyn (Hanners) Johnson. She grew up in Winona, Kansas and graduated from Oakley High School in Oakley, Kansas. She then attended college in California where she received her Associates Degree. She married her high school sweetheart, Darrel Grabenstein, on March 21, 1970, at St. Michael’s Church in Central Valley, California. They moved to Redding, California for a time and then on to Chico, California where their two daughters, Cori and Kristy were born. They lived in a few different places in northwest Oregon before settling in Seaside where Mary worked for Adult and Family Services providing daycare for families. They then moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon where Mary ran a daycare center for teen parents as they worked to complete their education. Once the daycare closed, Mary became a Pharmacy Tech and worked for Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls. She worked at Sky Lakes for 34 years and retired as the pharmacy buyer. She left the pharmacy as a legend knowing everything there was to know about pharmaceuticals. After her retirement in 2018, Darrel and Mary moved to Tabor, South Dakota to be closer to family.

Mary was a feisty, independent, and very sweet lady who would do anything for anyone. She was a second mom to many. She showed her love through the kitchen and was famous for her spaghetti sauce, chicken fried steak, chicken enchiladas, and tacos.

Survivors include her husband, Darrel of Tabor; two daughters: Cori Murphy of Eugene, Oregon and Kristy (Tim) Welker of Tabor; four grandchildren: Easton and Elise Murphy and Nora and Mason Welker; three siblings: Carolyn Engelbrecht, Ron (Shelly) Johnson, and Chuck (Pam) Johnson all of Klamath Falls, Oregon; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends and former coworkers.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Jackie.