Mary Leona Cozad was born in Wood Lake, NE, on March 19, 1937. Mary was residing at the Evergreen Community of Johnson County in Olathe, KS, when the Lord called her home on June 9, 2012.

Mary was the second of three children born to Ronald and Freeda (Lovejoy) Cozad. She grew up on a cattle ranch near Wood Lake, attended Wood Lake Union Church, and graduated from high school in Ainsworth, NE, in 1955. She married Paul Alberts on June 5, 1955, and to this union three daughters were born. She married Don Wulf on February 2, 1962, and to this union one daughter was born.

After residing in Casper, WY, and then Woodinville, WA, Mary and Don settled in Sturgis, SD, in 1972. They were founding members of Calvary Baptist Church. Mary worked at Sturgis Meat Service and then Ft. Meade VA Hospital until her retirement in 1999.

Mary enjoyed teaching Sunday School, her flower gardens, baking cakes for special occasions, preparing meals for a house-full of company, holidays with family, spending time with grandchildren, and crocheting. Her daughters remember being dressed in look-alike dresses that their mom had spent hours sewing. They also remember their mother making birthdays special and being able to pick the shape of their birthday cake. Each grandchild has an afghan to keep, crocheted by Grandma. We will all miss her caramel rolls.

She is survived by her daughter, Toni and husband, Mark Knight of Aberdeen, SD; her daughter Teri and husband, Ron Galloway of Olathe, KS; her daughter, Renee and Jim Smith of Dickinson, ND; her daughter, Rhonda Wulf of Indianapolis, IN; ten grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew, Andrew, Jennifer, Natasha, Jerrod, James, Brandie, Donnie, and Dustin; seven great-grandchildren, Mary Leona, Tre', Terric, Mila, Myles, Noah, and Wyatt; her sister, Frances and husband, Rex Schubert of Wood Lake, NE; five nieces, Debbie, Shari, Lori, Kim, and Pam; and three nephews, Dan, Ron, and Randall.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents; and her older brother, Richard.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 14th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

A luncheon will be served at the Calvary Baptist Church (707 7th Street, Sturgis) Friday at 11:30 a.m., prior to the funeral service. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 15, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Harold Holder officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery.

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