Mary Margaret Thomsen Stutzman

In Memory Of

Mary Margaret Thomsen Stutzman

            Mary Margaret Thomsen Stutzman was born November 27, 1927, at Friend, Nebraska to Clarence and Ellen (Schmidt) Rule, and passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023, at Tabitha in Crete, Nebraska at the age of 95 years. As a young girl she was raised on the farm where she spent time helping her mom and dad raise work horses. After a long day of work her father would put her up on one of the horses when he was done in the field. Mary attended Country School for 8 years and finished her high school education and graduated from Friend High School in 1945. Mary was united in marriage to Lyle Thomsen on October 1, 1949, at the Friend Methodist Church and Reverend Robert Emery officiated the service. To this union two children were born, Sara and Gary Thomsen.

            Mary was blessed with a second marriage with Richard L. Stutzman on January 22, 2016.

            Together Lyle and Mary made their home on a farm north of Friend where they raised milk cows, sheep, pigs, collies, and a wide variety of other farm animals for 34 years. After living on the farm for several years, Mary moved into the town of Friend and worked part time at the Friend Flower Shop. She worked full time at the bank for 50 years before retiring in 1997 (she started out of high school). She helped clerk auctions with Paul Rogers. Mary always kept busy; she was an active member of her church (upon her death, she was an active member for the church for 80 years). She was involved in the UMW where she kept busy, working in the kitchen for weddings and funerals making coffee and punch. She and several ladies made quilts for “AIDS babies”. She rarely missed a Sunday going to church. Other hobbies and activities included quilting, crocheting, knitting, and embroidery. Mary loved music; her favorites comprised of polka, waltzes, and country. She loved to garden and grow flowers. She had a big strawberry bed for years! She also canned vegetables and made all kinds of jelly and jam. As a renowned baker, she always provided cookies, rolls, and cinnamon rolls. Mary loved her family and shared her hobbies with them. Mary’s joys of life were her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She enjoyed visiting with the staff at Tabitha, Mary would often be found sitting on the patio enjoying the outdoors.

            Mary is survived by her daughter Sara Thomsen and close friend Roger Bardell, of Friend NE; two grandchildren Bonnie, and husband Jeremy Nerud, of Dorchester, NE; Brian and wife Kelli Kohout, of Crete, NE. Five great grandchildren, Thor and Sawyer Nerud, Lennon and Hollis Kohout, and Brandon Thomsen. Daughter in law Sarah Thomsen of Hickman, NE.

            She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, son Gary Thomsen, husbands, Lyle Thomsen and Richard Stutzman.

Memorials are suggested to the Friend United Methodist Church.

Services will be live streamed through our Facebook page, Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services.

Visitations will be held Thursday from 2:00pm - 8:00pm at the Lauber funeral home in Friend, with the family greeting and receiving friends and relatives from 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Funeral Services will be held Friday June 2, 10:00am at the Friend United Methodist Church.

Interment will be at the Andrew Cemetery, rural Friend, Nebraska.

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