Mary Jane Vonasek

Mary Jane Vonasek, 76 , Bismarck, died March 2, 2018 at CHI St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, surrounded by her family.   A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday March 7, 2018 at 10:30 am at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave, Bismarck, ND. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Family will be receiving guests from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesday March 6, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil service will begin at 7:00pm. Mary Vonasek was born on May 8, 1941, in Grand Forks, ND. She was the daughter of William and Grace (Brown) McGurran. She attended school grades K-2 in Cavalier, ND; Saint James 2-6, Grand Forks, ND; 7-10 Fischer Minnesota; 11-12 Saint James in Grand Forks, ND; and graduated from Saint James in 1959 in Grand Forks, ND. Mary had many careers including working dietary and central supply at Saint Michaels Hospital in Grand Forks, which included making surgical packs, sharpening needles, preparing food for hungry medical students, which usually included her famous malts. Mary was a telephone operator in Grand Forks. Mary married George Vonasek on February 4, 1961 at St. Marys in Grand Forks, ND. They were stationed in Hawaii until September of 1962 and moved to Bismarck, ND where they raised their family.  She continued to work as a telephone operator in Bismarck and worked in the bill room with the legislature which she found great pleasure in. She was a receptionist at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Bismarck. She also worked at the Kirkwood Carmel Corn to earn extra money for their trip to Europe which they spent with their son Michael and his wife Leanne. She baby sat and was like a second mother to those children. She was very artistic and her many talents included painting, creative writing, ceramics, quilting, embroidery, crochet, flower gardening, cooking, and she fine-tuned the art of bread making. She was an active member of A.A. and St. Anne’s Parish. She enjoyed her family dog , “Lady Bug” and taking care of and feeding the birds the and squirrels.  Mary's grandchildren were very important to her and each one was special to her in their own unique way. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Mary is survived by her children, Sandra (Kurt) Schlatter, Bismarck, Michael (Leanne) Vonasek, El Paso, TX, and Laura (Loren) Wald, Bismarck; her grandchildren; Jesse (Lindsey)Schlatter, Jared  Schlatter , Lance Wald, and Leah Wald; her sisters, Charis Brossart, Fisher, MN, Majorie Bergum, Grand Forks, ND, Rita (Don) Devine, Manville, ND, and Maureen Sylling, Minot, ND; her brothers, Michael (Elizabeth) McGurran, Grand Forks, Dennis (Geraldine) McGurran, Grand Forks, Gerald (Robbie) McGurran, Littleton CO, and David (Delaine) McGurran, Grand Forks; and her sister-in-law Barbara McGurran, Amery, WI.   She was preceded in death by her Husband George; infant son, Thomas; her parents; her siblings, Sister Michelle McGurran O.S.B., Patrick McGurran, Timothy (Sue ) McGurran, two infant brothers;  brother-in-laws, Ronnie Bergum, Joe Brossart, and Gary Sylling; and sister-in-law, RaeAnn McGurran.