Mary D. Lenz, Kimball

Mary D. Lenz, 77, Kimball, died Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Sanford Mid-Dakota Care Center, Chamberlain.

She was born on Aug. 14, 1935.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Kimball. Burial will be in St. Margaret’s Catholic Cemetery, Kimball.

Mount Funeral Home, Kimball, is assisting with arrangements.

Mary Delores (Toupal) Lenz was born on a farm near Academy to Harry and Helen (Pazour) Toupal.

She attended Richland Country School through the eighth grade and then left school to work and care for her brother, Delmar, who was born with Down’s Syndrome.

Mary worked as a waitress at the Rite Spot Café and at the Red Owl Grocery Store in Kimball before moving to Chamberlain to work at the Silver Leaf Café.

She was employed for 10 years as a secretary at the Brule County Extension office and received both the State of South Dakota Outstanding Extension Secretary Award and the Friend of 4-H Award.

She married Paul V. Lenz in Kimball on Oct. 29, 1969, and while raising her children, also worked with Paul at Lenz Agency Insurance.

After Paul’s death, she owned and managed Lenz Agency until her retirement in 1997.

Mary was an active volunteer in numerous community and religious organizations. She was a member of St. Margret’s Catholic Church, the Catholic Daughters of America, Kimball Parent Teachers Association, and served as the vice president of the Kimball Centennial Committee, which led the effort to establish the Kimball Centennial Library.

Mary was also a staunch advocate for the developmentally disabled and served as the president of the Lyman-Brule Association for Retarded Citizens and as president of the Adjustment Training Center Board, during which time Hrabe Apartments were built in Chamberlain to provide supervised housing for individuals with disabilities.

In her free time, she loved to garden, grow flowers and to cook and bake for family and friends.

Grateful for having shared in Mary’s life are: her three sons: Phil Lenz and wife Kari, Bellevue, Neb.; John Lenz and wife Ann, Kimball; and Joe Lenz and wife Amber, Mobridge; her daughter, Mary P. Lenz, Chamberlain; nine grandchildren: Caden (11), Kylie (11), Paul (9), Carter (9), Tyler (6), Lucas (6), Johnny (5), Vincent (4) and Harry (2); two sisters: Tracy Rogers and Betty Bailey, both of Chamberlain; a brother, Delmar Toupal, Chamberlain; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and longtime friends.

Mary was preceded in death by, her husband, Paul Lenz, on Oct. 18, 1982; her parents: Harry and Helen Toupal; and a brother, Richard Toupal.

Tags: obituaries, kimball

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