Cover photo for Mary Ann Bousfield's Obituary
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Mary Ann Bousfield

November 1, 1930 — June 22, 2025

Formerly Sioux City, Iowa

The sun first rose upon Mary Ann Bousfield on November 1, 1930, and the sun set upon her life on June 22, 2025. But the Son now shines on her as she rests in the loving arms of Jesus.

Mary Ann Sandberg was born “with a squeal of a pig” according to her brother, Ern, at the home of her parents in rural Clay County, South Dakota to Swedish immigrant parents, Annie and Sigurd Sandberg. She received her elementary education in a one room school and the remainder of her education in Vermillion, SD. She worked in the bookkeeping department at First National Bank of Vermillion prior to her marriage on September 29, 1949 to Paul Bousfield. Three children were born to this union.

Long lasting friendships were made in the (United) Methodist Churches and communities where her husband served as pastor: Gayville and Volin, SD; Leadville and Denver, CO; and those in Iowa including Carson, Sioux City, Davenport and Winterset. In 1977 the couple moved to Fort Dodge where Paul was on staff at Friendship Haven. As a member of the Friendship Haven Auxiliary, Mary Ann spent many hours volunteering and also worked part time in the business office. Together the couple led several mission tours to Mexico, and tours to the Holy Lands, Greece, Norway, Denmark and Sweden (where they first met aunts, an uncle, and cousins of Mary Ann), Germany, Switzerland, and England. They traveled a second time to England on a Methodist Heritage Tour from Iowa.

When the children were young, many treasured fold-down trailer camping trips were made to various sites in the United States, often taking extended family with them. While living in Denver, the couple first fostered a girl in their home then, while living in Sioux City the family was given the opportunity to provide foster care to two newborn babies and a teenager. Sioux City is also where many Morningside College students became a special part of their lives, among them Rev. Jim Pemble and Dr. Enoc Hollemweguer.

Mary Ann was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church (Fort Dodge), Trinity UMC Women, Ruth Circle, and P.E.O. Chapter IM. She found joy in helping others, volunteering at church events, baking, working crossword and picture puzzles, crafts, tending her flowers, and, most of all, spending time with family and playing with great grandchildren. Thanksgiving became a special time for the large family gathering with the tradition of “Thanksgifting” – a time when gifts of men’s new clothing were wrapped for residents of The Beacon of Hope (Fort Dodge), and later gifts of children’s bedding for Sleep in Heavenly Peace of Warren County, IA. Proud of her Swedish heritage, she passed along customs to her family, particularly making Swedish bologna, Swedish rye bread, and celebrating St. Lucia Day.

Surviving her are her “pride and joy”- daughters Linda (Skip) Phillips, Norwalk, IA; Deborah (Allen) Wiese, Indianola, IA; and son David (Jane) Bousfield, Tiffin, IA, along with a “bonus son,” Enoc (Karla) Hollemweguer of Gilbert, AZ. Mary Ann was blessed with five grandchildren: Raymond Elliot III “Joel” (Katie) Phillips, Wauwatosa, WI; Sarah (Doug) Vaughan, Johnston, IA; Melissa (Alex) Holter, Indianola, IA; Kendra (Eric) Prior and Honor (Ben) Clark, both of Tiffin, IA; and thirteen great grandchildren. Also surviving her is a sister, Gladys Hanson of Elk Point, SD; three nieces, three nephews, and other cherished loved ones and friends. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Paul, her parents, her sister Gunhild (Walter) Johnson, brothers Ernest (Hazel) and Edwin (Eleanor) Sandberg, brother-in-law Burdette Hanson, sister-in-law Ellen Strauss, brother-in-law Clarence (Ada) Bousfield, and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express a sincere thank you to the staff of Vintage Hills of Indianola and the staff of Suncrest Hospice of West Des Moines for their loving and compassionate care given to their mother. She is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge, Friendship Haven Trust Fund of Fort Dodge, or a charity that touches your heart.

Funeral services will be held 12:00 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2025 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel with a visitation one hour prior to service time. Burial will be at Bluff View Cemetery in Vermillion, South Dakota. A luncheon will follow the burial at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Elk Point, South Dakota. 

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