Mary Munsen, 87, of White Lake, SD, died Monday, October 17, 2022, at her home in White Lake. Funeral Mass was at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 20, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in White Lake. Burial was in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery.
Mary Juanita (Peters) Munsen was born to Math and Blandina (Mairose) Peters on their family farm south of White Lake on October 6, 1935, the third of six children.
In 1953 she graduated from White Lake High School. She later attended Presentation College and Northern State University to obtain her teaching certificate. After achieving her certificate, she taught in a country school in Wessington, SD. In 1955, she moved to White Lake and taught in the Tripp Country School. She began teaching at Sprick Country School the following year.
On November 21st, 1957, she married Edwin Munsen at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in White Lake. To their union, 7 children were born. During that time, they bought and farmed the Peter’s Homestead family farm. In 2014 they retired and moved into the town of White Lake.
After moving to town, Mary carried many crosses and overcame health challenges, leading to several rehab stays at Aurora Brule Care & Rehab and eventually to Avera Hospice. All teams along with the WL Ambulance made a beautiful joint effort to help the family take Mary to her lifetime earthly home to be with her husband. The family comforted her on her way to the eternal Heavenly home; that she lived her whole life preparing for.
Mary is survived by her husband, Edwin; four daughters and three sons: Cindy (Jon) Groen, Sioux Falls, SD; Donna (Dale) Beckmann, White Lake, SD; Babs(Bryan)Bowne,Mitchell, SD; Jim (Diane) Munsen; Mark (Tammie) Munsen; Paul (Renee) Munsen; and Tiffany (Jeff) Thiry, all from White Lake, SD. She is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 3 step grandsons, 34 greatgrandchildren, brother Eldon (Jane) Peters, sisters Jeanne Kirsch and Carol Berquist, and sister-in-law Vivian Munsen.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; father and mother-in-law, Charles & Hazel Munsen; great-grandson Sean; sister, Joyce Bradwisch; brother, Duane Peters; son-in-law, Al Bollinger; sisters-in-law, Pat Peters and Cherie Munsen; and brothers-in-law, Rich Kirsch, Gordon Bergquist, Gary Munsen, and Ron Munsen.
