Mary Sathe

Mary Sathe, age 86, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Friday, December 22, 2023, at Walnut Village Assisted Living in Yankton.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton, South Dakota, with Reverend Thi Pham officiating.  Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota.   Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, December 29, 2023, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a vigil service at 7:00 PM.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.  Honorary pallbearers will be her great grandchildren.

Marie “Mary” Sathe was born July 28, 1937, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Gust and Maude (Rolle) Portaleos.  Her family moved to Yankton, South Dakota, when she was very young and Mary graduated from Yankton High School in 1955.  She married Allan Sathe on June 4, 1956, in Yankton.  Mary worked at Gurney Seed and Nursery for a few years and then decided to operate a daycare out of her home.  Mary loved children and operated her daycare for over 40 years, until her retirement in 2006.

Mary’s love for children extended past her daycare.  She spent over 300 hours every year, volunteering at Beadle Elementary, helping children learn to read.  Even during COVID, children would facetime with Mary so she could listen to them read.  She also volunteered at Stewart Elementary in the after-school program and with the Boys & Girls Club in Yankton.  She also spent many hours volunteering at the Banquet, United Way, Food for Thought Sack Pack Program, and at Sacred Heart Church.

Mary was a wonderful, caring, giving woman who would do anything for anyone.  She always put others first and touched many lives in Yankton.  She enjoyed walking with her friends and will always be remembered for her quick wit, baking brownies, and her Spaghetti O’s and hamburger.  She loved her family most of all and loved being GG to her great grandchildren.

Survivors include her three sons: Jeff (Elaine) Sathe of Germantown, Wisconsin; Jack (Kodi) Sathe of Caldwell, Idaho; and Jay (Wendi) Sathe of Yankton; nine grandchildren:  Jacob (Kate), Justin (Ali), Cyndal (Colt), Oshay, Collin, Robbie, Hayden, Mary Carole and David (Jayme); six great grandchildren: Alaya, Myla, TJ, Collin, Kaisley and Kyson; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 58 years, Allan; one sister, Elaine Nielson and two brothers: Dan and Nick Portaleos.

Mary’s family would like to thank all of the staff at Walnut Village for the wonderful care they gave to Mary.