Mary Ann Ertz

MARY ANN ERTZ was born July 11, 1939 to Jens and Doris (Hokins) North on a farm four miles west of Ruthton, Minnesota. She was the youngest in a family of four brothers and two sisters. She lived her first two and a half years on a farm, then the family moved to Ruthton, Minnesota. Mary Ann enjoyed Girl Scouts as a child, earning all her badges. She frequently used her brother’s bicycle to get around town. Her family bought their first car after her oldest brother went off to World War II. She graduated from Ruthton High School in 1957. On June 4, 1961 she was united in marriage to Clarence Ertz at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton. Their union was blessed with six children, David, Robert, Daniel, Anna, James, and Russell. The couple made their home in Lake Benton. Besides raising her children, Mary Ann worked at the nursing home in Balaton for 4 years as a dietary aide. The couple moved to Bingham Lake for 17 years and in 1990 when Clarence retired, they moved to a farm near Ruthton, Minnesota. Clarence died in 2006. Mary Ann then moved to Lakeview Assisted Living in Heron Lake, Minnesota. On February 21, 2013 she was transferred to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she died a month later on March 20, 2013 at the age of 73.

Mary Ann enjoyed word find puzzles, stitchery, reading the newspaper, watching John Wayne western movies, bingo, pinochle, canasta, waltz and polka music. Royal blue was her favorite color. Her favorite was a three course meal of Kentucky Fried Chicken and pumpkin pie to finish.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, David (Karla) Ertz of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, Robert Ertz of Ruthton, Minnesota, Daniel (Theresa) Ertz of North Mankato, Minnesota, Anna (Kenneth) Heern of Jackson, Minnesota, James Ertz of Ruthton, Minnesota, and Russell Ertz of Ruthton, Minnesota; 15 grandchildren, Leslie Watts, Jennifer Morton, Dallas Murray, Dillon, Dakota, Shawn, Karen, Andrew, Abby, and Adam Ertz, Alisha, Kayla, Jennifer, and Chelsea Wallert, and Michelle Perez; three great grandchildren, Olivia Gorny, Emma and Kylee Wallert; a sister, Iola Broin of Willmar, Minnesota; a brother, Mel (Molly) North of Janesville, Wisconsin; sisters-in-law, Adelaide Donaldson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Janice North of North Mankato, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; parents, Jens and Doris; siblings, Bill, LeRoy, and David North, and Eunice Anderson. Blessed be her memory!