Mary Kassube

Memorial services for Mary Kassube of Bertha were held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at the New Life Church of God in Bertha with Reverend Mark Brown presiding. Mary passed away on Monday, June 30, 2008 at the Northridge Residence in Ortonville, MN at the age of 82 years. Mary Alice Kassube was born on April 23, 1926 in Whiting, Iowa to August Herman and Anna Susan (Susie Dewey) Solid. While in elementary school, her family moved to a farm south of Bertha. She attended Bertha High School. After graduating, she worked for a year at Honeywell in Minneapolis saving money for her wedding. On June 30, 1946, she was united in marriage with Lyle Lewis Kassube, who worked their family farm with his parents. In fact, they shortened their honeymoon in order to help get the hay up. In 1947, Mary and Lyle moved near Lake Miltona for 10 months, before returning to the Kassube Family farm south-west of Bertha where they resided until their retirement from farming. Mary moved to Ortonville, MN in 1998 where she enjoyed many evening sunsets overlooking Big Stone Lake from her apartment. Mary was an "Alice of all Trades" on the farm, an excellent cook and seamstress making many of her children's jackets and clothes. Her skills as a cake baker and decorator/artist also made her a popular choice for weddings and other special occasion cakes. In addition, she taught cake decorating for a number of years at a local technical institute. One of her wedding cakes won Grand Champion honors at the Minnesota State Fair and her artistry was featured in several trade magazines over the years. She was well known for her love of rabbits, raising young bunnies for many families each Easter season. In addition, she had a reputation as an amateur herbalist. Mary was very active at the First Church of God in Bertha as the song leader/director, soloist and a member of the women's league. She enjoyed bowling and later joined the Bertha Horseshoe League. She pursued the arts of photography and oil painting. She also enjoyed raising flowers in her garden, was an avid reader and collected many books. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Lyle in 1991; parents Herman and Susie, brother David Ernest , sisters Ester Ruth and Mary Lou; and son-in-law Robert Cheek. She is survived by her children Lynn Cheek of Fresno, CA, Merle (Beth) of Maple Grove, Dennis (Darlene) of Big Stone City, SD, Angella Kassube of Minneapolis and Nyla (David) Benson of New London; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; brother Charles Harlan Solid and sister Cora Carol Solid-Mathis. Honorary pallbearers were Mary's grandchildren Christopher Kassube, Laura Cheek, Carrie Brimhall, Cory Kassube, Hope Kassube, Hillary Kassube and the members of the New Life Church of God. Interment was in the Peace Evangelical Cemetery at Bertha.

Mary Kassube

April 23, 1926 - June 30, 2008