Mary Holbach Ruelle, 79, died peacefully in the company of her loving family on February 15th at Kansas City Hospice House.

Mary was born on May 6, 1935 in Minot, the daughter of Frank and Ruth (Jones) Holbach of rural Minot. She was raised in St. Leo's Catholic Church and graduated from St. Leo's High School in 1953.

Mary and her husband Jim, who died on January 8, 2012, raised six children near Minot: Linda (Keven) Hayhurst, Grafton WI; Patrick (Kimberly) Ruelle, Overland Park KS; Carole (Rick) Sanders, Minneapolis; Mark (Sandy) Ruelle, Tecumseh KS; James F. (Sonya) Ruelle, South Jordan, UT and Joan Ruelle (Todd Ristau), Elon, NC. Mary has been a huge part of the lives of her 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mary is also survived by her sisters: Patricia (Don) Hill of Plano TX; Laverne O'Neill of Overland Park KS; Karen (Jim) Steffen of Overland Park KS and Diane (Roy) Hyslop of Lewisburg KS and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary and Jim were longtime members of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where Mary was active in Altar Society, Confraternity of Christian Mothers and volunteered at the Food Pantry. She served her community in a variety of ways: as Clerk of Nedrose Township for 30 years, 4-H leader, P.T.A. officer, member of the V.F.W. and American Legion Auxiliaries, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), volunteer reading tutor, and member of the Board of Directors of the Souris River Botanical Society. She enjoyed reading, quilting, traveling and gardening.

Mary was a person of great compassion and was quick to help others and extend her large circle of family and friends. A caring and loyal friend, she made friends easily and kept them close for a lifetime. Mary was the warm and loving heart of her large and boisterous family. She was always up for fun and adventure, and was even willing to create mischief and be part of a practical joke. Her cooking and baking were legendary. The fabulous holiday family meals, Jesus' birthday cake for Christmas, mailed care packages of favorite cookies and pans of the world's best caramel rolls all live on in our fond memories.

She had a great sense of humor, frenetic energy and zest for life. Last year, when she discovered the severity of her illness, she moved to Kansas City to be closer to family and her medical team. She engaged her cancer journey with characteristic faith, optimism and practicality. She drew upon heroic reserves of energy, living every moment to the fullest, exploring her new community, making new friends, and leaving us all with an example of how to embrace a challenge as an exciting adventure. Just a week before her passing, she hosted a family lunch at her home, and was baking, joking, and quilting.

Family and friends will celebrate her life at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Minot at a

Vigil Prayer Service : Sunday February 22, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. and at a

Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, February 23, 2015 at 10:30am.

Visitation : Sunday from Noon until 3:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to the Frank and Ruth Holbach Scholarship Fund at Minot Catholic Schools or the donor's memorial of choice.