Mary Woytassek

Mary Zelle (Nielsen) Woytassek was born in Rapid City, S.D., Nov. 2, 1932, when her parents E.M. “Swede” Nielsen and Neme (Lewis) Nielsen lived in Scenic, S.D.
Mary attended grade school in Scenic. In 1942, the family moved to Edgemont, S.D., when the Black Hills Ordnance Depot was being built. She finished school in Edgemont, graduating from Edgemont High School in 1950.
She attended the University of Denver and South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., and then became a statistical clerk at BHOD, where she met and married Jim Woytassek.
The family moved many times during Jim’s private sector and civil service career. She was a recording clerk for the KC 135 Spares of Boeing in Seattle, Wash., and was office manager for a large DIY firm in Springfield, Va.
Mary was a very active volunteer at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the Senior Center in Custer, S.D. She was a charter member of the Piecemakers Quilt Guild. She was a 74-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Her favorite things were reading, sewing, quilting and traveling with family (to 49 states) and most of the National Parks.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her, parents; sister in law, Pat (Tom) Beebe of Custer; and cousin, Don Scheunemann of Park Ridge, Ill.
Survivors are son, Mark in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter, Janet of Custer; sister, Karen (Don) Lapp  in Minnesota; nieces, Meri (Mark) Nielsen, Haley and Jake in Minnesota; Sara (Paul) Lapp in Minnesota, Ben in Georgia and Grace in Minnesota, Don Lapp (Mary Kay), Tyler and Sidney in North Dakota; Kathy Beebe in Hot Springs, S.D., Steve in Virginia and Chris in Wyo.; and Gale (Mike) Beebe  in Custer; her special furry friend, Bandit; and many friends around the United States.
Christian Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Monday, April 22 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer. Christian Funeral Committal will be at 2 p.m., Monday, April 22, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D.
Memorials may be given to St. John’s Women at St John the Baptist Church PO Box 632, Custer, SD 57730, Custer Senior Center Endowment Fund 538 Mt. Rushmore Road, Custer, SD 57730 or Father Pete Scholarship, School of Mines Foundation, 330 East Kansas City Street, Rapid City, SD. 57701.
Arrangements have been placed  in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.