Mary Klein

Mary Anna Klein, 89, Minot, passed away Monday, December 26, 2022 at her home.

Mary Anna Klein was born November 23, 1933, daughter of Lawrence and Martina (Sitter) Burckhard, in Rugby, ND. She was the youngest of nine (9) children and was raised in Towner, ND, where she attended a country school from the first through the sixth grade, then graduating from Towner High School in 1951. In 1954, Mary Anna received her nursing degree from St. Joseph’s / St. Francis School of Nursing and went to work as a county health nurse for McHenry County. In 1958, Mary Anna was united in marriage to Theodore “Ted” Klein at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Towner, ND. Ted and Mary Anna made their home on the Klein family farm North of Karlsruhe, ND, where they raised eleven children.

Mary Anna raised a large garden which resulted in creating her family’s favorite and unique pickled goods such as pickled tomatoes, pickled watermelon, and crock pickles. Mary Anna was a gracious hostess who enjoyed fellowship with family and friends and all visitors were often treated to a delicious meal. A favorite memory is Mary sending one of the children to announce the meal was ready by having them call out “TIME TOOO EEEAT” for all to hear in the farmyard!

Mary Anna returned to work as a nurse, first at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and then at Trinity Nursing Home. She relocated to Minot in 1988 where she continued to work for Trinity Nursing Home for 20 plus years before retiring in 1998. She enjoyed volunteering, tending her flowers, reading, working word puzzles, and spending time in prayer. She was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church where she was an active volunteer, serving on the prayer chain up to the time of her death.

Mary Anna was very proud of her family and took great pride in teaching her children the Catholic faith, ensuring they received all the sacraments, and teaching them the importance of prayer, Mass, and confession. Mary Anna enjoyed visiting with her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, and neighbors.

We will all miss the twinkle in her eyes and her warm, welcoming smile.

Her loving family includes: Anthony “Tony” (Sheila), Keith (Tania), Annette (Jonathan) Brewer, Kevin (Lynn), Judith (Mike) Bickel, Cordell (Jeannine), Stephanie (Rob) Hovland, Richard, Theodora “Thea” Klein, Travis (Sharon), Lenell (Nate) Jepsen; 17 grandchildren; 1 step-grandchild; 14 great-grandchildren; 3 step-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, MaryAnna Burckhard; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by Theodore “Ted” Klein; her parents, Lawrence and Martina Burckhard; Siblings: John Burckhard, Tony Burckhard, Mike Burckhard, Joe Burckhard, Balzer Burckhard, Catherine Boechler, Regina Klein, and William Burckhard; Infant child of Kevin and Lynn Klein, Infant great-grandchildren, Olivia Klein and Isaiah Brewer.

Visitation: Sunday, January 1. 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Prayer Service: Sunday, January 1 2023, 5:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot.

Funeral: Monday, January 2, 2023, 10:30 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Minot.

The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed and may be viewed at the link provided on her web page at www.thompsonlarson.com

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or St. Leo’s Restoration Fund.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).