Mary Eleanor Eggebrecht of Billings, Montana passed away at Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings on February 10, 2009. Mary died from complications from a severe stroke suffered on October 21, 2008.
Mary was born on June 9th, 1949 in Wolf Point, Montana, the fourth child of a family of twelve children, to Lorraine (Hansen) and Ralph Eggebrecht. She had a very happy childhood and attended the Immaculate Conceptions parochial grade school, St. Mary’s school in Bismarck, North Dakota and then Wolf Point High School where she graduated with the class of 1967.
Mary attended college for a short time after high school and then returned home to work. She was employed at the Sweet Shoppe and later at a new family business, the Sherman Motor Inn, when it opened in 1972. Mary later moved to Great Falls where she worked and then attended the College of Great Falls. She then moved to Billings and graduated from the Deaconess School of Nursing in 1982. Mary loved nursing and worked in Billings for years. Most recently she was employed at a group home during the week and worked weekends at the Eagle Cliff Manor. Mary had a great deal of empathy for her patients, particularly the elderly.
Mary was a lover of animals and would always stop to talk to any dog, cat or horse she ran into. Her own kitties (Dexter and Chewie) were very important in her life. On several occasions, she was known to stop her vehicle in the middle of a busy Billings street, jump out and stop traffic so a momma duck and her babies could cross the street safely. Family was another special thing to her and she looked forward to the days in the summer when she would attend reunions at Fort Peck Lake. Mary was always willing to share her candid opinion (even when she wasn’t asked to) with the young people in her family concerning their behavior and their dress. During her last year, Mary looked forward to seeing and being with her new grandson, Jaydn. Any day that Jaydn was with her was a beautiful day in Mary’s eyes!
Her parents and her brothers Charles, Paul, Tommy and Joey preceded Mary in death. Survivors include her son Chad and grandson Jaydn of Billings; brothers, R. James (Marilyn) Eggebrecht of Duluth, MN; Brian (Vickie) Eggebrecht of Malta, MT; Mark Eggebrecht of Wolf Point, MT and Frankie (Vickie) Eggebrecht of Billings, MT; sisters Kay (Marvin) Presser of Wolf Point, MT, Judy (Ron) Greene of Bismarck, ND; Julie (Jeff) Neubauer of Wolf Point, MT; and Beth (Butch) Olsen of Wolf Point MT; plus many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
A Family Service will be held 7:00 p.m. Sunday, February 15, 2009 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wolf Point with Father Steve Zabrocki officiating. Graveside services will be10:00 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2009 at Greenwood Cemetery, Wolf Point with inurnment next to her mother, Lorraine. Her family and friends as well as the many patients she so compassionately cared for will sorely miss Mary. May she rest in peace.