Mary Lee Koch

Mary Lee Koch, age 68 of Hartington, Nebraska died on Monday, March 11, 2024 at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family (Ss. Peter & Paul) Catholic Church in Bow Valley, Nebraska with the Rev. Eric Olsen officiating.  Burial will be at Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Bow Valley.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, at church, from 5-8:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday one hour prior to services.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren Kasen Koch, Lucas Thingstad, Drew Sharpe; her “godchildren” Tammy Carson, Audi Campbell, Craig Jackson, Jimmy Thoene, and Casey Koch.  Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry and Jenny Promes, Chuck and Paula Burbach, and Lorraine (Keevin) Pinkelman.

She grew up in Bow Valley and attended elementary school there. Mary Lee graduated from Hartington Cedar Catholic High School in 1974.  She married Randy Joe Koch on May 31, 1975 at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Bow Valley. She did daycare in her home, worked for Gurney’s Seed and Nursery in Yankton, Bow Valley SID Utilities, and Hydraulics Components in Hartington before finally working as the secretary for her husband’s and Bruce Wieseler’s business - R&B LandTiling until she retired in 2020.

Mary Lee was the church sacristan at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, after her mother Rose handed her those duties.  She took great pride in that position for more than twenty years.  She was devoted to the Eucharist and was an EMHC. Mary Lee held an hour of adoration at church for many years, and gladly prayed additional hours as a substitute adorer.  She was a member of the church choir since 1973, the Council of Catholic Women where she held numerous officer positions, and she taught CCD. Mary Lee was also involved in JC Camp at Tintern Retreat Center.  She loved the outdoors and her strawberries, flowers, gardening, cardinals, birds of many kinds and her time traveling to Alaska.  Mary Lee loved taking care of people and the church.  Her grandchildren and family were one of the most important things in her life.  She had a very strong bond with her sisters and often would speak German while with them.

Mary Lee is survived by her husband Randy of Bow Valley; four children and spouses Tina (Craig) Sharpe of Wayne, Jody (Chrys) Koch of Hartington, Jesse (Dawn) Koch of Bow Valley, Mandy (Marcus) Papenhausen of Coleridge; 15 grandchildren – Drew, Addison & Graham Sharpe; Kotner, Kasen, Kreyton, Kesley, Kyra & Kreston Koch; Lucas Thingstad, Kameron & Macie Koch; Dawsyn, Kyler & Brooks Papenhausen; eight siblings Darlene Lucas of Yankton, SD, Diana (Larry) Wiehn of Lincoln, Carol (Allen) Lammers of Hartington, Anthony (Carol) Thoene of Bow Valley, Karen Leise of Bow Valley, Danni (Karen) Thoene of Hartington, Sylvan (Leane) Thoene of Hartington, Kathy (Mark) Jackson of Bow Valley; sister-in-law Claudette (Doug) Sternhagen of Hartington; numerous family and friends.
  
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Rose Thoene Jr.; a brother Dave Thoene, brothers-in-law Lloyd Lucas and Denis Leise; nephews Eric and Jarod Thoene; parents-in-law Erwin and Mildred Koch.