Mary Ann Stogsdill, 88, a long time resident of Wagner, passed away Monday, October 26, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Armour. Funeral services are 10 AM, Friday, October 30, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Geddes, with burial in the Pleasant Lawn Cemetery, rural Geddes. Visitation is Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, followed by a 6:30 PM Prayer Service at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner.

Mary Ann Stogsdill was born January 17, 1927 in Geddes, SD to Frank and Anna (Teply) Stekley. She was the younger of two daughters.

As a child, Mary Ann attended Jackson #3 Country School. She walked or rode a pony and was joined by her sister, Ruby and several children in the neighborhood. During winter months a parent took the happy bunch to school in a buggy or sled pulled by horses. After Mary Ann finished 8th grade, she attended Geddes High School. She graduated in 1945. She began to show an interest in being a teacher and had always loved children. She enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan and studied under George McGovern and Oscar Howe. She then attended the University of South Dakota at Springfield, where she graduated with honors, earning a degree in Elementary Education. She taught in several rural schools around Platte and Geddes. She also taught one year in the very school she attended as a child - Jackson #3. In the early 1950's, Mary Ann moved to Wagner. Upon the closing of the rural schools, she began teaching Kindergarten in Wagner Public School. She taught there until retiring in 1992, after completing a teaching career of approximately 45 years.

Mary Ann was married to Paul Stogsdill from 1952 to 1983. During this time, Paul's daughter, Paulette (age 9), came to make her home with them. She was born in Hawaii, where she lived with her mother and grandmother. She loved her new home, as well as Mary Ann's mother, Paulette's instant grandmother.

After retiring, Mary Ann led a simple life. She was devoted to her home and with the help of others, cared for her flowers, trees and large yard. She earned several "Yard of the Month" awards. When friends dropped in, she would serve them with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. This was a trait for which her mother was also known.

Mary Ann had a giving heart. She donated food and candy to local organizations and shopped for books that small children in the family would enjoy.

Mary Ann loved our country's flag and what it stood for. She stressed the saying of the "Pledge of Allegiance" to her young students. She taught patriotism and flag etiquette and always honored our veterans.

Mary Ann was a member of the Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma for many years. She dearly loved this organization.

Grateful for having shared her life are her step-daughter, Paulette (Stogsdill) Ford of Mankato, MN; Mary Ann's sister, Ruby Flaig of Rapid City, SD; niece, Julie (Steve) Bertsch of Piedmont, SD; nephew, Jerry Flaig of Littleton, CO; and step-grandson, Adam Ford of Woodbury, MN. The family is also grateful to the many other special family and friends who shared in Mary Ann's life.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her mother and father and brother-in-law, Harold Flaig.