Mary Cross Obituary

Mary Ann Cross, 83, of Sioux Falls passed away on October 5, 2024 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, October 9 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Salem. Burial service will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Tuesday at 5 pm, with a prayer service at 7 pm, at Heritage Funeral Home, Sioux Falls.
Mary Ann (Koch) Cross was born on April 4, 1941, to German immigrant parents, Theodore and Anna Koch, in rural Montrose, SD. She was welcomed by five siblings: Hubert (Alice); Carl (Jeanette); Anthony (Marilyn); Ila (John Schroeder); and Doris (Everett Cumbee).
She attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Salem, SD and graduated from St. Mary's High School in May of 1959. In 1960, she earned her L.P.N. certification from the St. Joseph School of Practical Nursing in Mitchell, SD. She moved to Omaha, NE where she was employed by Bishop Clarkson Hospital and received additional certification as a surgical technician.
In January 1961, she met Ken Cross, a Maryland native who was stationed at Offutt AFB in Omaha. Their first dance turned into a lifetime adventure with their marriage on September 30, 1961. This holy union resulted in the arrival of Kelly in 1962; David in 1963; Scott in 1964; and Karen in 1965. As a military spouse, she put her nursing career on a twelve-year pause while the family accompanied Ken on assignments to Fort Meade, MD, Frankfurt, Germany and Tokyo, Japan. She also maintained family life in Salem for 11 months while Ken served in Korea.
Mary Ann resumed her nursing career in Fairborn, OH, this time with a focus on compassionate care for nursing home residents. She then worked at Colonial Manor in Salem for six years and retired after working for seventeen years at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD.
Her family was the focus of her life, with 14 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She found a new adventure in her love for photography and enjoyed taking pictures of the little ones participating in their various activities. She made it her mission to create photo books for each child that spanned their birth to high school graduation. One could never count the number of sporting, school and family events that she attended to celebrate with her family. All of this reflected her love for family based on her Catholic faith and the value of each precious life. She truly led by example and reminded her family daily "I'll love you forever."
Mary Ann is survived by husband of 63 years, Ken Cross; daughters Kelly (Chuck) Rotert; Karen (Rick) Weber; sons David (Heidi) Cross; and Scott (Mari) Cross; brother-in-law John Schroeder and sisters-in-law Marilyn Koch, Jacqueline Gallagher, and Nancy Frock; 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren; and special friend of more than 60 years, Cora Berg.
We'll love you forever, Mary Ann.
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