MARY NOVOTNY

Mary Frances (Lee) Novotny passed away September 11, 2018 in Gresham, Oregon after a 45-year battle with Parkinson's. She was born October 5, 1945 in Sioux City, Iowa to Francis and Edna (Clifford) Lee. A funeral mass of celebration was held in Stevenson, Washington, at Star of the Sea Catholic Church on September 18.

Mary attended Hunt Elementary and North Junior High, and graduated from Sioux City Central High School in 1963.

She met her husband of 53 years, Jerry Novotny while attending the University of South Dakota from 1963 to 1965, when they married. Mary was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority while at the University. She later graduated from Yankton College in 1968. She taught kindergarten at Webster School in Yankton for ten years, then at Kinder Kollege in Bowling Green, Kentucky for five. In 1983 Mary and family moved to Stevenson, Washington, where they lived until 1989. They then moved to Gresham, Oregon, where they lived from 1989 to 2018. She fought Parkinson’s and its various stages since her diagnosis at age 27.

Mary is survived by husband Jerry, son Cary, grandchildren Neve Novotny, Tess Novotny and Makenna Carrol, sister Patty Barker and nephew Caley Barker. She was the daughter-in-law of Pete and Ida Novotny, longtime Lake Andes residents. Burial will be in South Dakota at a future date. Memorials in Mary's name may be directed to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (easily accessible on line).