Surrounded by her family, Mary Ann Binstock, 86, Dickinson, formerly of South Heart, peacefully went to her Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at St. Benedict’s Health Care Center. Mary Ann’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Monday, January 7, 2013 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Belfield, with Fr. Shannon Lucht as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary & vigil at 3 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.
Mary Ann was born January 31, 1926, to Chris and Theresa (Hengemuhle) Anderson. She grew up on the family farm, homesteaded by her father southwest of South Heart. She attended elementary school in Zenith and graduated from St. Pius Verein High School, in Schefield.
She received her teaching certificate and taught at a rural school north of Dickinson where she boarded with the Frank Kaisershot family. Later she boarded with the Pete Schmidt family and taught at a school in the Gaylord area. Both schools were one room schools and included all eight grades. Mary Ann enjoyed telling stories about walking through high snow drifts and getting to school in time to build a fire in the stove so the school would be warm when the children arrived.
On June 10, 1947, Mary Ann married Vincent J. Binstock at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Belfield. This past summer, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary together, with their family. Shortly after they were married, Vince and Mary Ann purchased her parents farm where they raised four children. She worked long hours alongside her husband and children on the diversified farm, which consisted of grain farming and a dairy and beef operation. Mary Ann also worked in the business office at Schnell’s Livestock for several years and served on the Stark County Selective Service Board.
Vince and Mary Ann moved to Hawks Point in 2009 where they resided together until she moved to St. Benedict’s in 2011. Mary Ann missed living in the country but was comforted by the fact that the third, fourth, and fifth generations of her family currently reside on the family farm.
She was an elegant woman and a woman of “class” in all that she did. She was an excellent cook and a gracious hostess who took great pleasure in entertaining her family and friends. She had the remarkable ability for making everyone feel welcome and at home. That generous and giving spirit brought her many friends and long lasting, loving relationships.
Mary Ann had a great variety of lifelong interests. She was a marvelous cook, enjoyed short stories, storytelling, and was an engaging conversationalist. She was truly interested in everyone she met. She was a lifetime member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. She was a member of Christian Mothers, Catholic Daughters, American Legion Auxiliary and Busy Bee Homemakers. Mary Ann loved dancing and playing cards. She and Vince were members of several pinochle clubs over the years. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren various card games.
Mary Ann’s life revolved around being a loving and dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. She cherished her Catholic faith. Prayer was an important part of her life which she passed on to her family.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Vince; two sons, Terry (Jan), Robbinsdale, Minn., and Alvin (Laurel), South Heart; two daughters, Mavis (Galen) Steffan, Dickinson, and Rhonda (Neal) Steffan, South Heart; brothers-in-law Leo Schaan and Louie Kuylen; sisters-in-law Eva Binstock, Ann Binstock and Eva Kuylen; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren (with another one coming soon) and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Nancy; grandson Adam Binstock; sisters Edith Miller and Dorothy Schaan, brother Leo Anderson; brothers and sisters-in- law Joe Miller, Olga Anderson, Louie Binstock, Anna (Jerome) Decker, Fritz Binstock, Clement (Cecelia) Binstock, Ralph Binstock, Regina (Tony) Froehlich, Anastasia (Steve) Kordonowy, Lena (Art) Helfrich and Theresa (Ben) Lantz.
Adored by her children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends, her loving kindness, beauty and generous heart will be deeply missed.
