Mary Niome Sacrison, 89

Mary Niome Sacrison, 89, passed away peacefully with family by her side, on March 2, 2019.

Mary was born May 4, 1929 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, to Harry Horton “Gum” Hedges and Manda Marie (Remmen) Hedges. She spent her early childhood on a cattle ranch near Ekalaka, Montana. While still in grade school she moved with her mother to Buffalo, South Dakota, where they lived with her grandparents, Peter Allen Remmen and Mary (Haugen) Remmen. Mary graduated from Buffalo High School in 1948. During the school years and summers she worked at various jobs, including clerking at the Sturdevant Drug Store and the Stensland Grocery Store, waiting tables at French’s Cafe and helping with sheep shearing at the Antelope Preserve.

Mary went to the University of South Dakota at Vermillion where, after also attending summer school in Spearfish, South Dakota, she received a mathematics education degree in three years. Her first teaching job was in Presho, South Dakota, where she taught math and English. During summers she worked at Mount Rushmore for Carl and Kay Burgess, where she made several lifelong friends.

On Aug. 23, 1952, she married William Richard “Bill” Sacrison in Buffalo, South Dakota. Mary taught high school math in Rapid City, South Dakota, while Bill completed his education at South Dakota School of Mines. After Bill joined the Navy, Mary continued to work at Mount Rushmore while Bill attended Officers Candidate School and she taught math in Maryland while Bill was stationed at the Pentagon and attended other Naval schools. While Bill was stationed in Coronado, California, Mary taught at San Ysidro. Their first daughter, Karen, was born at the Naval Station in Coronado. Their second daughter, Diane, was born in Laramie, Wyoming, where Bill attended the University of Wyoming. After a short time managing a hotel in Keystone, South Dakota, the family moved to Casper, Wyoming, where Mary taught math for five years at Natrona County High School while Bill was employed by AMOCO Production Company. After their next move to Denver, Mary taught math at Denver Metropolitan Education Center for more than 20 years. While there she was honored with a Denver Teacher of the Year award. In 1978, she received a Master of Arts from the University of Colorado. In addition to being an outstanding teacher, Mary served as a role model and inspiration to her family, students and fellow teachers.

After retiring in 1986, Mary and Bill moved from Denver and built a new home near Kalispell.

They enjoyed traveling to several worldwide destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Mary also made a trip to Israel and Egypt with a group from various Kalispell area churches and a memorable second trip to Norway with cousins Marjorie and Peter visiting relatives while there. In 2002, Mary and Bill traveled to the same small community where they spoke their wedding vows to celebrate their 50th anniversary among relatives and friends. They went on to celebrate 62 years of marriage. Their daughters and grandchildren will most cherish their countless memories of camping and fishing trips in Montana and Wyoming.

After Bill’s passing, Mary moved to Casper in January of 2017 and has enjoyed her last years living in the Primrose Retirement Community. She cherished her friends, especially her bridge partners, both in Kalispell and Casper. Mary was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran in Kalispell and Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Casper.

Mary always placed others’ interests ahead of her own. Her daughters and their families provided countless hours of pride, joy and satisfaction. Mary shall be remembered and honored as a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Upon her passing the earth’s loss is most surely heaven’s gain.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Karen (Bob) Leach of Missoula, and Diane (Doug) Ginsbach of Casper; grandchildren, Jake Ginsbach, Luke (Emily) Ginsbach, Garrett and Hannah “Hanni” Leach, Marya (Ben) Morrow and great-granddaughter Holland; brother-in-law, Hans (LeAna) Sacrison, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Gary (Phyllis) Gilbert, Peter (Jan) Remmen and Norman Negaard.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, and cousin Sherry Negaard.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held in Buffalo, South Dakota, this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a cancer organization or Lutheran church of the donor’s choice.