Mary Ann Aldrich

Mary Ann Aldrich, age 89, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and retired bookkeeper for Wingate Sales Solutions passed away on Friday, March 11, 2022. Mary ​Ann was born July 19, 1932 in St. Charles, M​innesota to Gust​ave and Margaret Putzier. Preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Lloyd and brothers Vincent, Ivan, Leo and Eugene.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children ​Annette (Barry) Jones, Jay (Denise) Aldrich and Arlonne (Stan) Livengood, brother Lawrence Putzier, ​sister Catherine (Marvin) Hruska, brother George (Pat) Putzier, grandchildren Kyle Aldrich,​ Travis (Miranda) Jones, Emily Aldrich, ​Kelly Jones, Shawn (Samantha) Aldrich, Ethan Aldrich, great grandchildren Parker ​and Isabel Jones and George Aldrich.

​Mom attended a one room country school until the 8th grade, then graduating from St Charles High School. As most parents have told their kids, they walked uphill both ways to school in 12 feet of snow, that may well have been true since she lived in Minnesota. The amount of snow was probably closer to 6 feet. After graduating Mom worked a bit as a kitchen assistant for St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, then taking a job for Gopher Aviation in the Parts Department, also in Rochester. While at Gopher Aviation, a handsome lad by the name of Lloyd Aldrich, began keeping a watchful waiting eye on Mary Ann. Eventually he asked her out and the first time she said “no”. He was persistent (Thank Goodness!), and the second time he asked she said yes. After a year and half courtship they married on June 19, 1955. Soon after along came Annette, Jay and Arlonne (me).

Mom was a super stay-at-home Mom. In 1970 or 1971, Mom returned to the outside-the-home workforce, taking a job at a Target located in Ottumwa, Iowa, when Dad's job took him to Indian Hills Technical School teaching airplane mechanics of some sort. In 1972, Mom and Dad relocated to Derby Kansas where Dad began working for Beechcraft. Mom took a job at McConnell Airforce Base working at the hospitals PX. While working there she took some night school book keeping courses then taking a job with National Sales Stimulators, and eventually working for Wingate Sales Solutions. After a 45 year plus career with those last two businesses, Mom retired in October 2021 at 89 years old.

Hobbies, interests, relaxation…. Hobbies, not so much. Interests were many and varied, most important were ANYTHING to do with her Grandkids and then GREAT Grandkids. Mom was always available for anything with those kids whether it was babysitting, sporting games, school programs, movies (especially Disney VHS or DVD) and sleepover's, popcorn balls, you name it she was willing and ready!

Mom was raised with a strong belief in God and Jesus. She walked beside Him her entire life. Mom was the church Treasurer for Madison Avenue United Methodist Church from 1972 until 2021. She enjoyed doing His and this work. Every Sunday afternoon I would hear her using the 10-key and once that work was finished, she would get to writing the weekly letters to her Mom and our Aunt Gladys. That by-gone form of communication….

Relaxation was never really a word in Mom’s vocabulary. No moss grew anywhere around Mom! If she did sit down, it would be in the summer after mowing the yard, maybe with a nice cold Coors beer, yup, you read that correct, cold Coors beer. Nothing better than a cold beer after working in the crazy heat and humidity of Kansas. Mom enjoyed reading, listening and identifying bird songs, occasionally knitting, card making. Recently I found a bag of knitted IV covers for small hands….Mom helping others where she could.

Minnesota and Family were prime vacation spots during the early years. Later after Dad’s passing, she occasionally drove to Minnesota, as well as driving around the state of Kansas with my sister Annette, and discovering this great flat state. Mom joined in several vacations with myself and my husband flying to Seattle, Spokane, Florida, Nashville for adventures to the Pacific Ocean, San Diego where we saw my brother's Navy Aircraft Carrier the Kittyhawk. It just happened to be in port, I'm sure the Navy had it there just for Mom! She went to San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. Mom had a love for NASCAR and enjoyed attending races at a few close racetracks. While in Minnesota one time, her nephew Dennis arranged a ride with a local race car/track driver and I think he said she was giggling like a school girl by the time she got back. Taking a trip to Nashville she enjoyed a show with Ray Stevens. She did enjoy being at The Grand Ole Opry, seeing several of the "old time" favorites perform. Visits to Quivira National Wildlife Refuge with Annette were always a joy. Mom had monthly "dates" with my brother, Jay, when he would take her to dinner and they would discuss anything and everything, most likely the main topic being he and Denise's kids or airplanes, mom had a great love of airplanes and flying.

Our mother was independent, proud and full of love for us kids, especially our spouses (she was very supportive of them, they may not have realized that), a good listener, private, modest, an adventurer, LOVING, CARING, respectful, Christian, very young at heart, lover of animals.

I would keep writing, but I can sense Annette and Jay, shedding a tear or two AND rolling their eyes because I can be so very long winded, my Fathers daughter and proud of it. I see Mom and Dad are dancing a Waltz right now….

Memorials may be given in Mary Ann's name to Madison Ave United Methodist Church, 900 E. Madison Ave., Derby, KS 67037 or Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, PO Box 325, Congers, NY 10920-0325.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00am, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at Madison Ave United Methodist Church, 900 E. Madison, Derby, KS with burial to take place at Lakeview Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MyLakeviewFuneralHome.com for the Aldrich family.

The service will be livestreamed from Lakeview Funeral Home & Lakeview Cemetery Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/101635589929917 for those who are unable to attend in-person.