Mary Jeanne "Jary" Schuft, 84, Spearfish and formerly of Sturgis, died Sunday, February 19, 2012 at the David M. Dorsett Health Care Center in Spearfish.

Committal services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Pastor Jenene Earl officiating. Friends may gather at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis prior to leaving for the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Hospice of the Northern Hills or Alzheimer's research.

Jary was born January 8, 1928 at Hibbing, MN, to Richard L. and Mabel L. (Longcor) Giffin Jr. She graduated from St. Cloud State where she received her teaching credentials.

She met James Schuft at school and the two were wed on July 7, 1951 in Minneapolis.

Jary taught for several years before staying home and raising their family. The family lived in Minnesota and then to several other locations while Jim was in the Air Force, before moving to Hot Springs and eventually Sturgis. Jim was a physician and practiced medicine at the VA Hospitals.

Jary was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sturgis and volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program in Sturgis.

Survivors include her son Erik Schuft; two daughters, Kristen Simoneau, Lucinda (John Natvig) Schuft; sister Pauline Franklin; sister in law, Betty Korford; also 5 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

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