Mary Ann Meyer, 75, of Kiester died peacefully Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at Parkview Care Center in Wells surrounded by family. She died after a nearly two-year struggle with cancer.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. today at United Lutheran Church in Walters. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells. Visitation was set to  continue one hour prior to the service at the church Tuesday. Interment will be in Rice Lake Cemetery with the Rev. Don Rose officiating. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home of Wells is in charge of arrangements. See www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences.

Mary was born Sept. 13, 1944, the daughter of August and Caroline (Hacklander) Rice in Blue Earth. She grew up on the family farm northwest of Walters and attended school in Walters and Kiester, graduating from Kiester High School in 1962. Mary went to Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, and finished her degree in elementary education at Mankato State University. She taught elementary education, preschool and Head Start in the communities of Walters, Kiester, Frost and Albert Lea.

Mary was united in marriage to James Meyer on Jan. 30, 1965, at Rice Lake Evangelical United Brethren Church. Together they had five sons: Paul, Mark, John, David and Thomas. James and Mary farmed all of their 55 married years. Mary was involved in church, 4-H, school activities, being a farm wife and being a supporter of her family. Her family, and especially her grandkids, were the joy of her life, and she supported them in every way possible.

Mary is survived by husband, James; sons Paul of Kiester, Mark and his wife, Pepper, and children Malia, Cooper and Libby of St. Paul, John and his wife, Kimberly, and children Leah, Isaac and Madison of Walters, David and his wife, Becky, and children Caleb, Noah and Luke of Baxter, and Thomas and his wife, Heather, and children Hannah, Elizabeth and Mitchell of Kiester. She is also survived by her brother, Kenneth Rice, and his wife, Ruth, of Columbia Heights; sister, Carolyn Sabinish, of Albert Lea; along with many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents August and Caroline Rice; her father and mother-in-law Evert and Oda Meyer; and sister Valera Rice.