Mary Schantz

Mary M. Schantz, 86, of Hebron, ND was called to Heaven on March 17th, 2022 at the Marian Manor Health Care Center in Glen Ullin.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, March 23rd at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Hebron with Fr. Gary Benz as celebrant.  A parish rosary will begin at 10:00 AM for all wishing to join.  Inurnment will be held at a later date in the church cemetery.

Mary was born on April 12, 1935 in rural Hebron, ND to Frank and Mathilda (Jose) Kokot. Her younger years were spent in a tile house north of Hebron. When she was 7, her family moved to Hebron, where she graduated from Hebron High School in 1953.

With a strong work ethic from early on, Mary started work when she was 11, working for a farm family helping with household chores. During high school she worked at the Green Lantern Café and following her graduation she worked at Funk’s Meat Market. She was a dedicated farm wife and integral to the family farming business – supporting Ernie during planting and harvesting, often taking special delivery hot meals into the fields.  In her later years, she worked and formed many strong friendships at Walmart in Dickinson.

Mary married Ernest Schantz on November 4th, 1953 in Hebron, ND at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. They moved to a farm south of Hebron after their marriage.  In 1957, they purchased the Fred Senne farm making it their permanent home where they raised their family of four children.

As a lifetime member of St Ann’s Church and Christian Mothers, Mary was known for her great faith and commitment to her parish. She was also revered for her love of family and her cherished friends, many whom she considered family.  Mary’s expression of love was to make incredible food for those in her life. She was an exceptional cook and baker and spent many hours in the kitchen preparing for company or taking food to family gatherings.  She reveled in sharing her traditional recipes with her family and could be found showing three generations how to make strudel in her kitchen.

Mary was always up to something and loved connecting with friends new and old…sometimes through Facebook, and other times by carousing auction sales or just a friendly card game. Everyone Mary knew was met with a big, beautiful smile. Her special connection with those she encountered fostered love and admiration from the community as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and true friend.

Mary has left her earthly home.  However, her presence remains in our lives, dwelling in our hearts where our love for her and choice to honor her will remain strong in our minds and souls.

Mary is survived by her loving husband Ernie; four children, Sandra (Thor) Tessem, Ronald (JoAnn) Schantz, Bryan (Tracey) Schantz, and Kerry (Scott) Patton as well as her sister Frances (Benny) Becher. Mary was blessed with 7 grandchildren, Brad (Nicole) Schantz, TJ (Ashley) Schantz, Adam Zimmerman, Abby Zimmerman, Andrew Schantz, Aidan Schantz, Austin Schantz and two great-grandchildren, Bennett Schantz and Allison Schantz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mathilda and Frank Kokot; and siblings Gertrude Bleth, Walter Kokot, Frank Jr. Kokot and Doreen Libbey.