Mary Agatha Mushitz, 90, Gillette, WY, and formerly of Rapid City, died May 13, 2010, at the VA Black Hills Health Care Center at Fort Meade, SD.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. A rosary will begin at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Rev. Fr. Richard Boyle officiating. Burial with military honors by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard follows at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Mary was born June 21, 1919, at Platte, SD, to Jacob John and Margaret Josephine (Travis) Steffens. She attended school in Platte and graduated from high school in Geddes. She worked at a dime store in Sioux City, IA, prior to being accepted into nurses training at Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD. After receiving her diploma she worked at St. John's hospital in Rapid City. She enlisted in the US Army and served as a nurse in England and France. She was awarded the bronze service star. Following her honorable discharge, she moved to Yankton where she worked at Sacred Heart.

After returning home she married Edwin Mushitz at Geddes on June 11, 1946. The couple farmed and ranched at Geddes, Wessington Springs, Gann Valley, Ree Heights, and New Underwood until 1990. After Edwin died in 1990, Mary retired to Rapid City.

Survivors include her sons, Eugene and Wilma Mushitz, Hanceville, AL, Mike Mushitz, Rapid City, Pat Mushitz, Bennett, CO, and Tom and Eunice Mushitz, Riverton, WY; daughters, Maggie and Larry Mushitz - Compton, Rushville, NE, Rose Dressel, Wall, SD, Alice and Clint Rhodd, Gillette, WY, and Susan and Chuck Davis, Burke, SD; one sister, Gertrude Steffens, Geddes; 20 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Marcene Steffens, Humansville, MO.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one infant son, Joe; two sisters, Bernadine Steffens and Agnes Masur; and three brothers, Bill, John and Paul Steffens.

A memorial has been established.