“The kiss of the sun for pardon.
The song of the birds for mirth.
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.”
-Dorothy Frances Gurney
On a chilly November 19, 1926, Mary Louise Frey was born in Helena to Willis Haller Frey and Bessie Lee Butler. She lived her 86 wonderful years in Helena where she shared her life with her family and many, many friends. She attended Central School through the 8th grade (she was the second of three generations to attend that school) and graduated from Helena High School in 1944.
Mary Lou began her long career with the Algeria Shrine Temple after graduating from high school. She was hired as the secretary to the Algeria Recorder. Shortly after being hired, a member of the Shrine said, “She is too young. She’ll never last.” However, Mary Lou proved them wrong and lovingly worked for the Shrine organization for over 50 years. In her capacity with the Shriners, she met many of her long-time friends and was well-known throughout the state. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Nile.
Mary Lou married her high school sweetheart, Warren Henry “Hank” Kropp, on July 15, 1949 in Helena and they were blessed with three children: Vicki, Bill, and Karen Marie. Mary Lou loved flower gardening and the sunshine of summer. Her flowers and yard were a symbol of her love of life. She and Hank spent many hours camping, boating, and enjoying the Montana outdoors. She was an antiques expert and rarely missed an antique show in Helena and loved to go antique shopping across the state. She especially loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren and we all have so many fond memories of time spent with her. Her fabulous dinners were always enjoyed by everyone but her specialty was apple pie; no one in our family has been able to make an apple pie as delicious as hers but we will continue to try. Mary Lou came from a very musical family and she spent many hours playing beautiful music on the piano that once belonged to her grandmother. She loved to travel with special friends and visited many beautiful places in the United States and around the world.
Mary Lou passed away on October 8, 2013 with family by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant daughter, Karen Marie, in 1964; and her husband, Hank, on November 10, 1986. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Vicki and John Horton of Helena, and Bill and Helen Kropp of Stevensville; and by her grandchildren Jennifer (David) Auker of Aurora, CO; Jeffrey Horton of Helena; Kallan Kropp of Big Sky; and Katelyn Kropp of Missoula. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Willie and Don Kieckbusch of Belgrade as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and her countless friends.
A celebration of Mary Lou’s life will be held at Retz Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A reception will then be held at the Algeria Shrine Center, 15 N. Jackson Street, hosted by the Daughters of the Nile.
The family suggests that memorial donations may be made in Mary Lou’s name to: Algeria Shrine Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 1174, Helena, MT 59624 or to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children – Spokane, 911 W. 5th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204. To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Mary Lou, please visit below.
Mary Lou will be watching over all of us and smiling. “Never say good-bye, just wave and honk!”
Service Schedule
Viewing
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Retz Funeral Home Chapel
315 E. 6th Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Retz Funeral Home Chapel
315 E. 6th Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial
After the service
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
7100 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the burial
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Algeria Shrine Center
15 N. Jackson St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Viewing
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Retz Funeral Home Chapel
315 E. 6th Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Retz Funeral Home Chapel
315 E. 6th Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial
After the service
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
7100 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the burial
Tuesday October 15, 2013
Algeria Shrine Center
15 N. Jackson St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Share
Fred Nelson says
Bill, Our throughts and prayers are with you and your family. Fred and Sherry Nelson
Elmer and Barb Cole says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your loss of a wonderful lady. Elmer and Barb Cole
Pam and Ed Fallang says
Are thoughts and prayers are with you all.
What a wonderful and fun lady Mary Lou was. She has been with our family for many years. She was like a big sister to all of us Bailey girls. Always loved having her at our family gatherings.. She will be missed a lot.
Pam, Ed Fallang
Sue Lane says
So sorry to hear of this loss, she was a wonderfully funny, compassionate friend to the “Bailey Family” ,I loved to hear her referred to as” big sister..”…..She will be missed by all that knew her!
Bob & Michelle Jordan says
Dear Bill , Helen & Family
Our Thoughts & Prayers are with you and your family, If there’s anything
we can help you with please let us know.
Debbie Mueller says
Dear Vick & John and Bill & Helen and families,
Your hearts must be absolutely broken at the loss of this amazing Mother and Grandmother! I feel I have lost a treasured aunt. She was delightfully witty and so very wise. Never will I forget her kind manner, her thoughtfulness, and especially her way of relating events in her life, which kept me in stitches. What a blessing it was to have known her.
God comfort you all in the days, weeks, and months to come. I am so very sorry.
Debbie Mueller
allegra ahlquist says
Mary Lou was a wonderful and loving companion for my brother Ed.
i found her to be very kind hearted and loving to everyone she
met. i know it is a great loss to her relatives and all who knew her.
Allegra Ahlquist
Marcia Gray says
I am surprised and very much saddened to learn of your mom’s passing. Even though it was decades between our meetings, she always remembered our last topic of conversation. We would chat wherever we met, which was usually a fabric or grocery store. You and she supported each other with much laughter and love. It was heartwarming to hear about.
A wonderful lady with a wonderful family, may you remember often the many fun and loving times you had with her.
Nanette ( Kieckbusch) Sweet says
So sorry for the loss of a very special lady I will never forget the good times and her great sense of humor Auntie you will always have a special spot in my heart luv u so very very much You will missed but never forgotten
Joan Applegate Sieler says
I was so sad to hear of your Mother’s passing. She was one of the sweetest women I have been blessed to know. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Robin Barkley says
Your mom was so good to my uncle Ed. I got to meet her and spend some wonderful times with them and she was so much fun and so good to my husband Tom and I . She was a super down to earth and sensible person . I will remember her always and I am only happy that she is in heaven with my uncle Ed now; he adored her and she made his life very happy when they got together late in their lives. My cousin Debbie and I both just loved your mom, and she will miss her along with me and all of us who knew her… xoxoxox, Robin