Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 Fifth Ave. N.W., Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign her online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service and rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation continues for one hour prior to Mass at the church on Wednesday.
Mary passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen. Blessed be her memory.
Mary E. Hansen was born Aug. 26, 1912, in Edmunds County to Thomas and Elizabeth (Baer) Hansen. This is the area where she was raised and attended country school.
Mary was united in marriage to John R. Pitz in Aberdeen on Dec. 30, 1930. The family lived and farmed in the Edmunds County area for many years. Mary and John were blessed with five children and shared almost 35 years of marriage before he passed away Nov. 12, 1965. Following John's death, Mary moved to Aberdeen, where she continued to make her home until the time of her death.
Blessed to have shared Mary's life are her children: Beverly (Jim) Bauer of Aberdeen, Merle (Doris) Pitz of Ten Sleep, Wyo., and Melvin (Gloria) Pitz of Mina; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Fabian "Bud" Hansen of Wenatchee, Wash.; and two sisters: Delores Barker of Bryant and Betty Flahaven of Aberdeen.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; one daughter, Marilyn Zimmerman; one infant son; two brothers: Peter and Leo; four sisters: Loretta Olson, Agnes Kamen, Anna Schwab and Rosina Hansen; and one daughter-in-law, June Pitz.