Mary Koepp, 91

Mary Koepp, age 91, of Belle Plaine, died on April 23, 2025, at her independent living apartment at Kingsway Senior Living. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine and one hour prior to the funeral at church. Rev. Ted Vanderpan will officiate. Interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery.

Mary was born on July 18, 1933, in Helena Twp., New Prague, MN, to parents Fred and Hannah (Scharf) Ruehling. She was baptized and confirmed at Friedens Ev. Lutheran Church, Lanesburgh, MN, and went to country school in the New Prague area. Mary was the 4th of 4 children, and she loved growing up on the family farm with her siblings Caldwell, Betty and Harriet. She graduated from New Prague High School in 1950 and worked at the bank in New Prague.

As a young woman, Mary loved to go to the local dances. There, in 1949, she met the love of her life, Frederick Koepp. Mary and Frederick exchanged vows on November 13, 1952. They then lived on a farm in Blakeley Township. Their marriage was blessed with 63 years and five wonderful sons & daughters, Dave, Karen, Sharon, Allen, and Brent. Mary was active in the community of Belle Plaine. She enjoyed farming events, a custodian at the Lutheran Home (30 years), being a custodian at St. John Lutheran Church, and family and church events. Her family was a very important part of her life, and she was so proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren plus great-great-grandson, and most of all, her loving husband, Frederick who died in 2015. In 2020, she moved from the family farm to Kingsway Senior Living.

She is survived by her children, David (Char) Koepp of Jordan, Karen Dobesh of Le Sueur, Sharon (Duane) Wolters of Arlington, Brent (Wendy) Koepp of Belle Plaine; daughter-in-law, Sally Koepp of Belle Plaine; 16 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; sister-in-law Alverna Laabs of New Prague, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Armin (Irene) Koepp of Shakopee, brother-in-law Wesley Koepp of Belle Plaine, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sanarose (Ron) Krenik of Le Sueur, sister-in-law Lynette Koepp of Belle Plaine, brother-in-law Bill Koepp of Bloomington, sister-in-law Janel Schmidt of Belle Plaine; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Frederick; son, Allen Koepp; son-in-law, Lynn Dobesh; parents, Fred and Hannah Ruehling; brother, Caldwell (Leona) Ruehling; sister, Betty (Henry) Jabs; sister, Harriet (Carl) Plekkenpol; brother-in-law, Jerry Laabs; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Earl (Loraine) Koepp; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Norman (Marilyn) Koepp; and sister-in-law, LaVonne Koepp.

“God be with you until we meet again.”