Mary Ann Wendelken was born in Belle Fourche, SD on October 7, 1928 to parents Ralph and Anne Wendelken as the youngest of four children, joining brother Jim and two sisters Claire and Sara. She grew up on the family dairy farm and ranch at the foot of Redwater Hill between Belle Fourche and Spearfish. Her childhood was a carefree time spent swimming in the creeks, roaming the hills, skating on the rivers, sledding down the slopes, roller skating in the barns, riding horses and playing games when forced to stay indoors, and helping with chores along the way.
Mary Ann’s schooling was at the Normal School in Spearfish and later in Belle Fourche. She was a good student and graduated from BFHS in 1946 as valedictorian. Later that fall Mary Ann attended South Dakota State in Brookings, but her heart was back in Belle Fourche with Jack Wells, who she dated during the summer. Jack had returned to Belle Fourche after serving in WWII the U.S. Army Air Corps in the South Pacific when he met Mary Ann through friends. They married on August 6, 1947 in a double wedding ceremony at the Congregational Church in Belle Fourche, along with her sister Claire and husband Maurice Stambaugh.
While on their honeymoon, opportunity knocked in the form of a store display TOILET STOOLS, which were in short supply after the war. The young couple was building a new house and needed this important item, so they bought it at black market prices, which drained their cash and they ended up using the toilet as collateral for a motel stay until more funds could be obtained. This incident pointed out the need for a plumbing supply store and Jack was able to start a business in the basement of their house. The business was run by Mary Ann much of the time (often with a baby on her hip) as Jack worked at other jobs until Wells Plumbing Supplies became established.
The family grew. After Richard and Linda arrived, the one-bedroom house was bursting, so they built a house on Redwater Hill. Two more children followed – Allen and Barbara. Mary Ann described her time spent raising a family as the best time in her life. She was the kind of mother that anyone would wish for.
As her children got older, Mary Ann completed a home landscaping course and worked for a time at Beck’s Nursery in Spearfish which enhanced her knowledge and love of gardening, which she expressed throughout her life. In 1965, she became a real estate broker, one of the first women realtors in the area, operating Wells Real Estate out of their home. Meanwhile Wells Plumbing Supplies had grown, so Mary Ann became head bookkeeper, plumbing adviser, stocker and more. She won over some skeptical customers by showing her knowledge and capability with plumbing and parts. In 1992 Mary Ann joined son Richard as a partner in Homestead Nursery, working full time during growing seasons until she retired in 2019 at the age of 90. She loved to pot plants and often left a trail of pulled weeds along the paths of the nursery gardens. She thoroughly enjoyed working with customers and sharing her love of plants.
Mary Ann was able to do many things in her life. She participated in Bridge Club, PEO, Belle Fourche Women and Toastmasters as well as roles in the U.C.C. church as Sunday school teacher, greeter and trustee. She was a voracious reader with a curious mind, and her home gardens were true expressions of her imagination and style. Most of all she was a loving person who put thought into everything she did. She remained close to her sisters Claire Stambaugh and Sara Horman and the sound of the three sisters’ unrestrained giggling was a hallmark of their time together.
Mary Ann and Jack lived at home in Belle Fourche through 2023 and celebrated their 77th Anniversary. She passed away on December 21, 2024 at the age of 96 at Heartland Senior Living in Spearfish. She is survived by her husband Jack, who is 101, of Spearfish, four children Richard Wells of St. Onge, Linda (Jon) Wiley of Spearfish, Allen (Michele Post) Wells of Sturgis, and Barbara (Mike) Snoozy of Portland, OR, five grandchildren Nathan (Stephanie) Wiley and Aaron (Carolyn) Wiley of Indianapolis, IN, Krista (Brady) Menzel of Sioux Falls, Kelli (Honario) Colipano of Ewa Beach, HI, and Kyle (Saki) Snoozy of Portland, OR, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her three siblings, grandchild Kelly Brengle and great-grandchild Kaylee Teppo.
Memorial gifts may be designated to the First Congregational Church UCC, Belle Fourche, SD.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30am Saturday, December 28, 2024 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche. There will be no visitation.
