Mary Jane Street

Mary Jane Street was born Mary Jane Bretthauer on Sept. 28, 1922 to Leora and Reio Bretthauer. She grew up in Whitefish with her two sisters, Dorothy and Rhea.

Mary Jane graduated from Whitefish High School in 1940 and married Russell Street in 1941.

When Russ went in the Army and was stationed in Texas, Mary Jane went along and worked at Fort Sam Houston. They moved back to Whitefish after a short time when Russ was discharged with eye problems. In 1947 they built Street’s Grocery at 237 Central Ave., and lived in an apartment upstairs. 1950 saw Mary Jane and Russ adopt two boys, Doug and Roger. Both have preceded her in passing.

Street’s Grocery operated for 16 years and during this time they developed and together marketed a spice product called “Alpine Touch.” It is still on store shelves today.

In the late 1950s, Mary Jane and Russ together with partners bought Bay Point Cabin Camp. They operated Bay Point through the 1960s and after buying out their partners, went on to develop Bay Point Resort Condominiums and later Bay Point Country Homes. Mary Jane and Russell were a team in all things.

They were active in the early development of Big Mountain, they were part of the original “Dirty Dozen” that started the Whitefish Winter Carnival. They were community builders and very supportive of Whitefish, whether it be it’s businesses, the schools, tourism development, Whitefish Lake, or the Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1995, after Russ died, Mary Jane continued to be an active member of the community. She was very active in the Presbyterian Church and a supporter of the Whitefish Community Foundation. Mary Jane very much enjoyed traveling. In her later years, her one regret was she could no longer travel, however, from 1996 on she traveled to Arizona numerous years during the winter. In addition, she also went to Africa, Europe twice, Russia, Australia, Alaska and Canada to see polar bears.

Mary Jane was 89 years old this past September. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Whitefish Community Foundation Presbyterian Endowment Fund which she founded, the Presbyterian Church itself, or the Whitefish charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 Central Ave., in Whitefish on Thursday, April 19 at 11 a.m. The Rev. Ken Peterson, former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church from 1978 to 1992, will conduct the service. Rev. Peterson knew Mary Jane and Russ for many years when he was in Whitefish.