Mary Ann was born to Franklin and Mary Catherine (Meyer) Wieferich in Townsend, MT on September 5, 1929. She was the eighth child of fourteen born to her parents and very much exhibited middle child syndrome. Fiercely independent and a lover of all things outdoors or with the farm animals, Mary Ann became her dad’s right-hand girl and could always be found helping him with the farming, ranching or caretaking the animals. She raised rabbits for profit and was the only child born truly “horse-crazy” and so loved trailing the cows to summer pasture in the Deep Creek Canyon and bringing them home for branding and sorting.
Raised on the family farm in Canton Valley (what is now under Canyon Ferry Lake), Mary Ann attended school in Townsend, playing girls basketball for the Bulldogs and was a candidate for homecoming queen in her high school years.
She met her husband, John Phillip Mockel, during her school years and they were married April 12th, 1950. To that union were born four children – son Greg (Cathy) Mockel, twins Laurie and Lynn Mockel and Sherri (Randy Mosley) Ohs-Mosley. Mary Ann worked at the State Bank of Townsend until the birth of their first child and subsequent move to Arizona during her husband’s short stint in the Air Force. Upon John’s hardship discharge out of the military due to the addition of twin girls and now having three children under thirteen months old, they moved back to Montana and eventually settled in East Helena where they added another daughter and raised their family and sent them all to St. Ann’s Catholic School. Mary Ann volunteered her secretarial skills as a parish secretary and bookkeeper for many years for St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church. A job she thoroughly enjoyed. She worked several sessions of the Legislature in the House of Representatives and loved to banter over her political views.
A striking woman, Mary Ann could sew anything, including most of her and her family’s clothes, which were perfectly tailored to fit. We always had a clean house and home cooked meals, where our friends and relatives were made to feel welcome at any time. Mary Ann grew an amazing garden on a small plot, putting up vegetables, canning fruit and adding all that to the freezer full of wild meat she helped process after hunting season. Her lawn and flowers were always manicured and gave her great joy as well. She always had enough to share with the neighbors, a Wieferich family tradition.
She was a Boy Scout Den Mother, volunteered with the East Helena Rodeo Committee until her health declined, and was involved in 4-H activities with her girls. Her happiest years were when her kids were small, and she was self-employed as a thrifty and efficient domestic engineer.
Later in life, due to untreated mental illness, her and John were divorced, and Mary Ann entered in to a difficult phase of her life.
She is survived by all four children, thirteen grandchildren, one great grand-child, one brother and three sisters/one brother-in-law. Jim (Val – deceased)) Wieferich of Twin Bridges, MT., Pat (Bob -deceased) Allen of Victor, MT., Gladys (Darwin – deceased) Youngren of Great Falls, MT., and Eileen (Gene) Erie of Columbia Falls, MT.
The family would like to thank the staff and administration of Elkhorn Health & Rehab of Clancy, MT for the absolute loving care they gave our mother for the last three years and for Sherri’s devotion and oversight of our mother’s well-being for the last fifteen years.
A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, 101 S. Walnut St., Townsend. A Reception will follow the Mass at the church. Memorials can be made to: Elkhorn Health & Rehab, 474 Hwy 282, Clancy, MT 59634, Hospice of St. Peter’s Hospital c/o St. Peter’s Hospital, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601or to the charity of your choice.
Please visit below to offer a condolence or to share a memory of Mary Ann.
Tom Naegele says
Mockel Family,
So sorry for the passing of your Mom. Yet knowing she is in Heaven is good and a Blessing. Supportive Prayers and careing thoughts surround you Dear Friends.
Peace & Tranquility,
Tom
Curtis Stanghill says
Greg and family, so sorry for your loss. Many prayers being sent.
Shirley (Nordstrom) McKnight says
Laurie, Lynn, Sherri and Greg,
So sorry to see your loss of your mom. So many great memories of us as your neighbors in EH and all of us going to Sts Cyrils and Methodius church and school. You all are in my thoughts.
Shirley Thomas says
Ann had a hard life the last many years. I am sorry for that, but I have lots of good memories from many years ago. First, of course, is the East Helena Kiwanis which your Dad and Earl belonged to, what a fun crazy bunch that was! I went to Bible studies led by Dee Dennison with her and some others. We shared lots of laughs and fun. Of course, there were the horses she loved and the one she kept at our house and came out to take care of. She was a good person and evidently a good Mom judging from how well her kids turned out. She is in a better place now and healthy. God Bless Her.
Von &Ron Pearson says
Greg and family, so sorry for the loss of your Mom. May you find peace on your hour of need.
Terri Kunz says
Greg and Cathy-sorry for the loss of your Mom. Many blessings and peace be yours as you enjoy the memories of a life lived well. Terri