Mary Frasier, 83

Mary Frasier, 83, of Denver, Colorado, formerly of Pierre, South Dakota, died Friday, October 13, 2023 in Serenity House Memory Care in Littleton, Colorado of natural causes.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 8 at 11:00 am at Spirit of Christ Catholic Church in Arvada CO with a graveside service at 1:00 pm on Monday, November 13 at Holy Angel Cemetery in Presho, SD.

Following graveside services there will be a gathering at Jet Lanes in Presho.

Mary was born June 9, 1940 to Verne and Rachel (Stevens) Frasier of Presho, South Dakota. She graduated from Presho High School in 1958 and

continued her education receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science at Black Hills State College, Spearfish, South Dakota, in 1962 and a Master’s degree in Library Science from Denver University, in Denver, Colorado in 1963. Mary was active in South Dakota Library Assn., Mountain Plains Library Assn., Business & Professional Women of South Dakota, and Catholic Daughters.

Mary accepted a position at the South Dakota State Library in Pierre, South Dakota as the Reference Librarian immediately after graduation in 1963. Due to increased disability after 27 years, Mary retired from her position as head of the Reference Department at the State Library on October 12, 1990. This was a most difficult decision, as Mary’s work helping people was a major part of her life.

Mary lived with her parents and younger sister, Marsha, in Presho until leaving for college in 1958.

Mary had a serious illness with high fever at the age of 6 months that damaged her motor nerves, causing it to be difficult for Mary to balance or holding objects such as a pencil for writing. Mary dealt with this disability the rest of her life. Her early years in the 1940’s and 1950’s were very difficult, as there were very few exceptions made for her physical limitations. With the help of her mother and close friends she rose above it and made a very successful life.

Mary’s father died just a month after her graduating from DU in 1963 and starting her career at the South Dakota State Library. Two years later in 1965 her mother, Rachel, accepted a job with State Welfare Department in Pierre and they decided to live together. Buying her own home on Filmore in 1980 was a landmark in Mary’s life and such a proud accomplishment. In 1992 due to health issues, Mary’s mother moved to Denver with Marsha’s family. Mary lived on her own for those 30 years from 1992 to 2022 with the help of great neighbors and good friends. In July of 2022 health issues required that Mary sell her home in Pierre and move to Denver with her sister Marsha and her husband Dave. She had struggled for the last few years in her home, needing home health care, to remain independent, so as not to burden others. Mary and Marsha had always had a special bond as sisters, and this year together was a precious gift for both of them. Mary was baptized and confirmed at Christ the King Catholic Church in Presho, where she assisted her mother and grandmother with care of altar linens and decorations. The early years in Pierre she was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Ft. Pierre and the later years a member at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Pierre. Mary’s devotion to her Catholic faith was at the center of her life. Through sickness and unfortunate circumstances, happiness and health she never faltered in her love of and dedication to her faith!

As a child, she loved playing with dolls and had quite a collection. Her next passion was playing games, any games. She especially liked softball, and even was able to pitch! In the early 1970’s Mary and Rachel played tennis! Board and card games continued to be a great joy to Mary, until the last few weeks of her life.

Her other interests were shopping, fashion clothing and jewelry, collecting angels, creating photo memory books, Christmas movies, old TV series “Dragnet” and “Adam 12”, and especially going out to coffee with friends. Mary’s favorite color was yellow and anyone who met Mary soon learned of her love for chocolate and experienced her incredible sense of humor. She always left you smiling. Mary never quit teaching us lessons in humility and generosity.

Mary is survived by her sister Marsha Sanders, brother-in-law Dave Sanders, and nephew Scot Sanders and his wife Lilli Black Sanders.

Isburg Funeral Chapel of Presho had been placed in care of the arrangements.