Obituary of Mary Ann Welsh

Mary Welsh, a longtime resident of Fort Pierre, South Dakota, died January 3, 2021 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mary, age 83, was the mother of eight children. She had been a homemaker, teacher, daycare provider, newspaper employee, and caretaker for St. John's Catholic Church and rectory in Fort Pierre.��Mary was born in Mitchell, South Dakota, to Leo Benjamin and Gertrude Johanna (Mohr) Scheich of Ethan, South Dakota. She grew up on a farm, south of Mitchell, that had been homesteaded by her grandfather. She attended nearby Tyler School through eighth grade graduation in 1951, which was the year electricity finally came to the family farm. Before that, she spent many years studying and doing homework by the light of an oil lamp.She went on to Ethan High School and was the valedictorian of the Class of 1955.� She enrolled in Southern State Teachers College, in Springfield, South Dakota, in 1955, and earned her two-year teaching certificate in 1958. Her first experience with teaching came in a one-room schoolhouse. She taught in a rural school in South Dakota's Prosper Township. She married George Francis Welsh at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ethan on July 26, 1958. Mary taught in the Rapid City, South Dakota school system until George earned his engineering degree from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1959. Then they traveled through and lived in several states while George worked on setting up microwave towers. In 1964, they moved to Pierre and to Fort Pierre a year later. Though rather quiet, and small in stature, Mary made a big impact on that community, mostly by working behind the scenes.The frequent moves early in her marriage, and a growing family, made it difficult to keep her teaching certificate up to date, but Mary still found ways to work with children. She took her children on nature hikes and organized the family's camping trips. She encouraged them to pursue their diverse interests - everything from playing in a rock band and fixing up classic cars to fishing and doing needlework. Mary supported them when they chose to get involved in sports, school activities and community organizations. Education was important to her, and she was proud that all eight children went on to earn at least one post-secondary degree.She also operated an in-home daycare center, which served many children in the area, until August 1979. Most days, there were far more kids at the Welsh home than Mary was paid to watch.�Neighborhood kids still came to her house after school, either out of habit or because all their friends were there.�Mary was the co-leader of the first Junior Catholic Daughters of America group at St. John's Catholic Church. She volunteered time to work with the local Junior American Legion Auxiliary, and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary herself for fifty-five years. She often cooked meals for St. John's youth groups.In 1979, she resumed her career outside the home when she was hired to lay out and design pages for the Capital Journal newspaper in Pierre, South Dakota. She held that job until she retired in 2006.�She especially enjoyed donating time to work on the paper's "Across the River in Stanley County" page. The Stanley County High School Pep Club presented her an award in 1985, in recognition of her work in promoting news about SCHS.Mary was always a woman of deep faith and an active volunteer with St. John's Altar Society. In retirement, she worked part-time for St John's Catholic Parish and lovingly cared for the church, the rectory and the priests and staff who worked there. She immersed herself in bible studies and ministries. The Diocese of Rapid City recognized her as a graduate of their four-year Ministry Formation Program.�� Mary was known for her dry sense of humor and her love of animals. She raised cocker spaniels, and it made her extremely happy to see her puppies going to loving families. Many people benefited from her amazing gardening and culinary skills. Her family could not gather without Mary's rhubarb pie sitting on the table as the centerpiece, and they would head for home with boxes full of her chokecherry jam and perfectly-made salsa. Mary began baking pies at age ten, so they could be served at lunch to the people working in the fields, and kept perfecting them for seventy-three years!Mary sewed numerous costumes, church clothes, curtains, and prom dresses, made homemade toys, wedding decorations and games and refinished furniture. She had a knack for being able to look at something and create it from scratch, without even using a pattern - everything from gym bags and car seat covers to a sofa and armchair.�The projects created by her hands, both whimsical and useful, will be treasured forever. Mary will be greatly missed by her many friends and family members.Her husband, George Welsh; her parents; a brother, Jack; and her sister, Shirley, preceded her in death.Mary is survived by her children, Trudy (Kelly) Welsh, Timothy (Kathy) Welsh, Patrick (Teresa) Welsh, Daniel (Nina) Welsh, Colleen (Bill) Wilson, Karen (Doug) Taylor, Gregory (Flory) Welsh, and Kevin (Katie) Welsh; fifteen grandchildren, Lindsey, Ben, James, Karly, Nicholas, Cameron, William, Ella, Luke, Heather, Ashlene, Majella, Hannah, Kris and Maridith; four brothers, Conrad (Kathy), Joe, Ron (Cherie), and Len (Patty) Scheich; and sister-in-law, Kate Scheich.Rosary, 7:00PM, Thursday, June 24, 2021, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 206 West Main Avenue, Fort Pierre, South Dakota 57532.Memorial Mass, 10:00AM, Friday, June 25, 2021, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.Interment, Scotty Philip Cemetery, County Road 908, Fort Pierre, South Dakota 57532.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mary's memory may be made to St. John's Catholic Church in Fort Pierre, South Dakota, or to the nuns who serve St. Joseph's Catholic School in Pierre, South Dakota, which all of her children attended. Memorials can be mailed to the Welsh Family at 685 Pony Lane, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904. Events Rosary Thursday, June 24, 2021 7:00PM St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 206 West Main Avenue Fort Pierre, SD 57532 Memorial Mass Friday, June 25, 2021 10:00AM St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 206 West Main Avenue Fort Pierre, SD 57532 Final Resting Place Scotty Philip Cemetery County Road 908 Fort Pierre, SD 57532