Mary Ellen Dion was born to Frank and Lucille (Stevicks) Dion on March 17, 1944 in Gregory, South Dakota. Mary and her sister Betty grew up on a farm North of St. Charles, South Dakota. She received her elementary education in St. Charles and two years of her high school education in Bonesteel and two years in Burke at BHS, following the family's move to the Gnirk Ranch North of Lucas, SD. Mary graduated from Burke in 1962.

Following her graduation she worked at Community Memorial Hospital in Burke as a nurses aide and in 1963 married Arnold Witt and together they moved to Bennington, NE where Arnold worked on a farming operation. During their stay in Bennington a son Ricky Dean was born. The family then moved on to the southern states where Arnold worked various jobs finally ending up in Las Vegas, Nevada where Arnold worked for a warehouse concern. During their stay in Las Vegas a second child, Shelli Lynn was born.

In 1972, Mary and her children moved back to Burke to live with her parents. She again took a job at Community Memorial Hospital in Burke. In 1974 she married Joe Fahrenbacher and together they made their home in Burke.

Mary and Joe celebrated their 40th Anniversary on February 15th of this year. Mary passed away suddenly on February 26, 2014 after being flown to the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Lou Dion, an infant son, her husband, Rhienhold Fuhrman, and her sister Betty Sextro of Butte, Nebraska. She is survived by her husband, Joe Fahrenbacher, her children Rick Fahrenbacher and wife Christine and daughter Kacey, her daughter Shelli Spellman and husband Todd and daughter Allie, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 10:30 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. There will be a prayer service on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the funeral home.