Mary Ann Boe

Mary Ann Boe (Short) of Spearfish, South Dakota, died peacefully at her daughter's home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a year ago on August 13, 2020, at the age of 93. She was a loving, devoted wife to her husband and loving and supportive mom to her children, especially cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren and she was always happy to cuddle a baby.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Dean, North of Arpan, South Dakota, Susan Obermoller (Douglas) of Sioux Falls, Sharon Boe of Spearfish, Michael (Roberta) of Torrington, Connecticut and Patrick of Worthington, Minnesota; grandchildren, Andrew Obermoller (Natalie) of Hawley, Minnesota, Katherine Neel (Michael) of Yorkville, Illinois, Sonja Olson (Ryan) of Sioux Falls, Tracy Obermoller (Liz Berg) of Duluth, Minnesota, Boe Nankivel (Meghan) of Coronado, California, Nikki Sunderland (Dave) of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Nicole Anderson of Wilmar, Minnesota; great grandchildren, Ava, Layne, Norah, Finn and Svea Obermoller, Leo, Aedan and Oliver Neel, Emmett and Otis Olson, Asher and Caden Nankivel and Boe Sunderland; her brothers, Sam Short of Lewistown, Montana and Darrel Short (Marcia) of St. George, Utah; sisters-in-law, Coleen Short of Piedmont, South Dakota, Eleanor Ingalls (Hugh) of Maurine, South Dakota, Jeanne Boe of Sheridan, Wyoming, Jean Lewton of Ten Sleep, Wyoming and Sandi Boe of Indianapolis, Indiana; brothers-in-law, Norman Boe (Connie) of Silt, Colorado, George Boe of Casa Grande, Arizona; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary Ann was born in her grandparents' sod house at Mud Butte, South Dakota on October 30, 1926, to Joe and Novice Short. She started ninth grade in Newell and earned her room and board by working on dairy farm. When the dairy was sold, and she then moved to Spearfish and lived with Aunt Lottie and Uncle Martin Mahoney and Cousin Helen (Running).

During sophomore and junior years, she worked for her room and board at the Jim Nelson home. As a senior and her first year at Black Hills Teachers College, she worked and enjoyed staying at the home of Dr. Ward.

At Spearfish High School, she soon became known as "Shorty". She was also actively involved in the Girl's Athletic Association activities (basketball), Homemaking Club and was on the Lookout newspaper staff.

She graduated with a teaching certificate and began her teaching career in a rural school by Fort Meade followed by a rural Newell school by Horse Creek.

While teaching, she met Leon (Bob) Boe, who would fly a small plane over her schoolhouse and drop love letters to her, making her upset at the distraction it caused to her students. They were married at the Belle Fourche Courthouse on June 1, 1948 and started their adventurous life together in Denver where Bob was attending Barber College.

They relocated to Rapid City when Bob became a barber. In their early years, they lived in Denver, Sheridan, Rapid City, rural Piedmont, rural Vale and Lead; and during those years, Dean, Susan, Sally and Mike joined the family.

They left the Black Hills in 1955 and settled in San Manuel, Arizona, where Bob worked in the copper mine and Sharon and Patrick were born. In 1957, they relocated to Grants, New Mexico, for a new mining opportunity.

They missed their family in the Black Hills so in 1959 they moved the family to Shirley Basin, Wyoming and Bob worked in a uranium mine while Mary Ann was a homemaker. After Bob was injured in a mining accident, the family moved to Casper for a short time and then to Rapid City in 1962. In 1964, the family settled in Newell where they hosted friends, family and two foreign exchange students.

She returned to college while her six children still were still in school and graduated from Black Hills State College in 1969. She served as the librarian at Newell High School, taught grades 1-8 at the Moreau School North of Newell and then taught grade school in Nisland.

In 1977, Bob and Mary Ann moved to Moorcroft, Wyoming and she taught first grade for 15 years and retired from teaching in 1992. After retiring they moved to a mountain home outside Sundance, Wyoming.

Bob passed away in 1998. In 2014, Mary Ann moved to Spearfish. Her last years were spent with her daughter, Susan and son-in-law, Douglas in Worthington and recently in Sioux Falls.

Before she retired, her brother Darrel introduced her to the Senior Games. Competing for twenty-five years in track and field events, Mary Ann has records and medals in nine states and five age groups

(five-year increments).

She competed in the Huntsman World Games in St. George, Utah in 1992 and 1999, and National Senior Games in St. Louis, Missouri (2001), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2005) and in Minneapolis (2015). In 1993, she received the Outstanding Female Athlete Award at the South Dakota Senior Games and she still holds many state and national records.

Preceded in death by parents, Joe and Novice Short; husband, Leon (Bob) Boe; brothers, Leo, Lloyd and Denny Short; daughter, Sally Boe; and grandson, Randy Nankivel.

She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts that are joyful knowing she is now running with the Lord. A celebration of Mary Ann's life is scheduled on Friday, September 3, 2021, when family and friends can gather at Our Savior's Lutheran Church at 1020 State Street, Spearfish, SD 57783.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., service at 10:30 a.m., with a meal and visitation following the service. Memorials may be donated to the National Senior Games Association at http://www.nsga.com or to the donor's choice.