MaryAnn Culver (Dvorak), age 92 died Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Golden Orchard Assisted Living in Denver, Colo. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with Rev. Tim Privratsky officiating. She will be laid to rest at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery next to her husband.
MaryAnn Dvorak was born September 20, 1923 on the family homestead southwest of Dickinson to John A. and Anna (Ridl) Dvorak. She graduated from Central High School in Dickinson. She then went on to receive her teaching certificate from Dickinson State Teachers College and then taught farm school south of Dickinson. MaryAnn was married to Ray Culver on February 2, 1946 in Glendive, Mont. They moved to Oakland, Calif. for the first year of their marriage, where they both worked in the dry-cleaning business. They then moved back to Dickinson and began raising a family and making it their home.
Ray and MaryAnn raised eight children making memories to last a lifetime. MaryAnn displayed the true meaning of being selfless and putting others first. She was the best mother and grandmother there was. Her love for her family was demonstrated in her amazing homemaker skills and the attention to detail in all that she did, especially in preparing meals. Her Sunday dinners were meals fit for royalty and there was always room for guests. She loved to play bridge, she was an avid reader, accomplished seamstress, loved gardening, crafting, and horseback riding. She was a member of the Rebekah’s and served as Local Nobel Grand for many years. She also served as a Community Service Volunteer.
She started working for Excel Cleaners in 1965. She was Mailroom Manager for 23 years at Dickinson State College from 1970 until she retired in 1993. She was widowed the same year. In 2005 she moved to Denver to live with her daughter Susan and off and on with her son Gae and his family in Dickinson and David and his family in Spearfish until she moved to Golden Orchard in 2013.
MaryAnn was preceded in death by her parents, John A. and Anna Dvorak; her husband Ray Culver; three brothers, Henry, John and Albert Dvorak; three sisters, Emily Hedge, Sylvia Pavlicek, and Dorothea Renner. She was also preceded by one son-in-law, Donald Tooley; and one grandson, Joshua Kostelecky.
MaryAnn is survived by her eight children, Susan Tooley, Denver, Colo., Dale Culver (Bonnie), Denver, Gae Culver (Sidney), Dickinson, Bruce Culver (Elaine), Denver, David Culver (Paula), Spearfish, S.D., Betsy Burgin (Henry), Louisville, Ky., Ned Culver (Kim), Grants Pass, Ore., and Bonnie Kostelecky (Doug), Dickinson. She is also survived by 32 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are preferred to the Cabin Fever Benefit/ Ronald McDonald House, a local charity in Dickinson.
