MARY K. KRAUS

MARY K. KRAUS Mary K. Kraus, 62 of Searles died peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, December 20, 2024, at New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm. Mass of Christian burial was 11 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. Monsignor Eugene Lozinski celebrated the Mass and burial followed in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in rural Searles. Visitation was held from 4 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and continued from 9 - 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 3, all at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-NORTH CHAPEL in New Ulm. The Christian Mothers prayed the rosary at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Cathedral in New Ulm. To leave an online condolence for her family or to sign the guestbook go to: mvfh.org. Mary is survived by her husband, Randy Kraus of Searles; her daughter, Jada (Beau) Brinkman of Waseca; her son, Jesse Kraus of Searles; her mother, Suzanne Braun of Sleepy Eye; her mother-in-law, Elaine Kraus of New Ulm; her sister, Christine (fiancé Jim Nelson) Frauendienst of Mayer; her brother, John (Renee) Braun of Sleepy Eye; her sister-in-law, Laurie (Tony) Domeier of New Ulm; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and close friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Braun; her father-in-law, Thomas Kraus; her grandparents, Norbert and Viola Seidl, and Henry and Marie Braun, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mary Kay Braun was born March 3, 1962, in Sleepy Eye to Lloyd and Suzanne (Seidl) Braun. She was a 1980 graduate from St. Mary's High School in Sleepy Eye and furthered her education at Willmar Vocational School where she studied sales and marketing. Mary was united in marriage to Randy Kraus on June 28, 1996, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Searles. This union blessed the couple with a son and a daughter whom together they raised in Searles. Early in her career, Mary worked in retail at Herberger's in New Ulm, but also sold Mary Kay products, as well as Lia Sophia jewelry. She later went into the service industry where she worked at Holiday Inn, as well as Kaiserhoff in New Ulm. Mary then went on to work as a bar manager at Searles Bar and Grill for the past 21 years, where she became known for her kindness, good advice, and ability to brighten anyone's day. Mary had an incredible ability to listen and support those around her, a trait that made her adored by friends, family, and patrons alike. Outside of work, Mary had many passions that reflected her deep love for life and nature. She cherished her time with horses, loved feeding the birds, deeply loved and cared for her dog, Della, and also found peace in her beautiful gardens, where she took great pride in her flowers and plants. Early in her life, she enjoyed the thrill of riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, and even made a couple of memorable trips to Sturgis with Randy, where the couple embraced the freedom of the open road. Family camping trips and vacations were always a highlight, creating lasting memories for Mary and her family. In addition to her work, Mary found immense joy in supporting her children through all of their performances and milestones in life. She was a constant presence at her daughter's horse shows and her son's sporting events, and always cheered them on with love and pride. Mary's caring nature and unwavering support will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. The connections she made with her close friends were connections that lasted a lifetime. She was a devout and dedicated member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where she was involved with the CCW and many other volunteer positions. Mary lived a life full of love, hard work, and selflessness. She was dedicated to her family, always putting the needs of others before her own, and her warm presence will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Blessed be her memory. MVFH.org.