Mary M. Kerner, 85, Dickinson, died Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Mary’s Liturgy of the Word service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Deacon Ron Wolberg presiding. There will be a rosary at 7 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service with Deacon Ron Wolberg presiding. Visitation on Friday will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service and will continue on Saturday from 8 a.m. until service time.

Mary M. Thielen was born at Dickinson on December 26, 1928 to Joseph and Emma (Reisenauer) Thielen. Mary was raised on the family farm southeast of Dickinson and attended Shipley Country School. While attending a dance at the Highway Inn on Saturday, September 17, 1949, Mary met Valentine “Val” Kerner. Mary and Val were married on November 27, 1951 in Dickinson. Val died on Saturday, September 17, 2005, exactly 56 years after they first met.

Mary enjoyed working for many years in retail where she was employed by JC Penney’s, Coast-to-Coast, Gift Emporium, Streifel’s, and Tempo. At a young age Mary developed a love of care giving and could always be counted on to help in times of need. Mary loved decorating her home for all of the holidays. She was an avid collector of owls, Precious Moments, Country Cousins, Beanie Babies, and all kinds of porcelain figurines. Mary enjoyed the trips she and Val would take in their motor home, vacationing, and playing cards with family and friends, however, Bingo was her favorite pastime.

Mary is survived by three sons, Clyde (Bonnie), Dickinson, Kevin (Audrey), Beulah, and Clayton (friend, Debra Lidberg), Dickinson; seven grandchildren, Kandace (Cory) King, Jason (Denise) Kerner, Casey (Kristen) Kerner, Kayla (Lance) Passaro, Kimberly (Fiance, Ross Whitmore) Kerner, Calvin Kerner, and Valarie Kerner; 10 great-grandchildren, Regan, Kendra, and Colton King, Perry and Emily Kerner, Konnor Tolke, Kyler and Kinsey Kerner and Aidan and Quinn Passaro, and one sister-in-law, Dorothy (Thielen) Heidt.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Val, her parents, two brothers, Albert and Edward; two sisters-in-law, Loretta Thielen and Marian Lefor and her husband, Richard and one niece, Diana (Thielen) Allert.