Mary Goerdt

Mary J. Goerdt, age 65 of Sauk Centre, passed away Saturday, April  24, 2021 at CentraCare Melrose Care Center surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 6 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Rick Aubol officiating. Inurnment will be at Bohemian Cemetery in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Mary Jane Bethke was born August 7, 1955  in New Ulm, Minnesota to Belvin and Lois (Wallner) Bethke. She attended catholic schools in New Ulm and St. Mary’s and Cathedral High School in New Ulm. She continued her education at St. Cloud State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 1977. Mary worked for four years at Minnesota Valley Test Labs during college and worked two years at Kraft Foods in Melrose during the layoffs from 1982 to 1984. Mary was an elementary school teacher at the Sauk Centre Public Schools for 38 years, retiring in 2015. On September 29, 1979 she was united in marriage to Michael Goerdt at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre.

Mary attended four National Teacher’s Conferences, assisted Cub Scout and Girl Scout Troops when their children were young, and joined Gradatim Club which provides funds and services to the Sauk Centre Community. She enjoyed playing the card game 500 with two card clubs, making greeting cards, craft projects, quilting, gardening, and was an avid reader.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Goerdt of Sauk Centre; children, John (Kristen) Goerdt of Madera, California, Jessica (Corey Morrow) Goerdt of Brookings, South Dakota, and Theodore (Renee) Goerdt of Melrose; six grandchildren, Austin Sielaff, Leighton, Wyatt, Eleanor, Benjamin, and Margaret Goerdt; sisters and brothers, Kathy (Hilary) Holm of New Ulm, John (Connie) Bethke of St. Peter, James Bethke (significant other, Charlotte) of Waterville, David (Michelle) Bethke of New Ulm, and Heidi (Brian) Brandes of Courtland.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Belvin and Lois Bethke.

Serving as urn bearer will be Leighton Goerdt. Cross bearer will be Eleanor Goerdt and scripture bearer will be Wyatt Goerdt. Gift bearers will be Danielle Harden, Rachel Borgerding, and Alyssa Bethke. Readers will be Diane Leukam and Janet Schulte.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.