Marie Anna Richards, 88, Minot, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 in a Minot nursing home.

Marie was born on February 20, 1926 on her uncle's farm near Tioga, ND to Gertrude Nehls. She was reared and educated on her grandparents' farm south of Minot and attended country school. As a teenager she moved to Minot and was employed at Minot Laundry and Novak's Cleaners for several years. Marie was baptized and confirmed on August 6, 1944 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church - Minot.

Marie was united in marriage to Dempsey Richards on October 14, 1949 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They made their home in Minot where she was employed at Bray's Cleaners for many years until retiring in 1991 because of poor health. Dempsey died on March 23, 1990. Most recently Marie had resided at Milton Young Towers prior to moving to Trinity Homes in 2012.

Marie was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot. She volunteered at the church and was a Senior Companion for Lutheran Social Services for several years. She especially enjoyed quilting, sewing, and bible study with the church groups.

Marie's loving family includes her daughters, Peggy (Jim) Roberts, Judy Wilkerson, Minot and Ellen (Bob) Bott, Norwich; step-daughters, Florence (John) Martocello, Vancouver, WA and Ethel (David) Smith, Oceanside, CA; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Celebration of the Life of Marie Richards: Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family prefers memorials to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Minot.