Mary Kay Michels

September 18, 1931 - December 14, 2020

Mary Kay Michels, age 89, of Beach, North Dakota passed away peacefully on Monday, December 14, 2020 at St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson, North Dakota. Visitation will take place from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a Vigil Service at 7:00 PM on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Silha Funeral Home in Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 21, 2020 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beach with Father Dan Berg officiating. Rite of Committal will take place following services at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Mary Kay was born on September 18, 1931 in New Hradec, North Dakota, the daughter of Joseph and Philomina (Faiman) Ficek. Growing up, she attended school in New Hradec and Dickinson, graduating from Dickinson Central with the class of 1949. Upon graduation, Mary Kay began working at First National Bank in Dickinson. Mary Kay was united in marriage to Donald Hubert Michels on October 25, 1955 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Dickinson. Shortly after Mary Kay and Hubert were married, they moved to Terry, Montana where Hubert worked on the railroad. Soon after, they made their home on the Michels family farm west of Beach. They were blessed with four children: Debbie, Donnell, Diane and DeLayne. In 1976, Hubert was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 1978. Mary Kay remained on the farm until moving into Beach in 1980. Mary Kay was employed by Golden Valley County as the Deputy Tax Director, and later became the Deputy Auditor for Golden Valley County. After twenty years of service, she retired from the courthouse. In October of 2012, Hawks Point in Dickinson became home for Mary Kay, later moving to the Golden Valley Manor in Beach. Mary Kay loved to travel with family and friends. A trip to Austria, where the “Sound of Music” was filmed, being one of her favorites. Mary Kay enjoyed playing bridge, bowling and playing bingo at the Beach Legion. She also enjoyed donating her time fixing hair at the Manor. Her faith was a very important part of Mary Kay’s life. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, St. Anne’s Guild and St. John’s Choir. Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Philomina Ficek; her husband, Hubert; her sisters, Dorothy, Martha, Georgia and Josie; her brothers, Wilfred, Richard and an infant brother, Alfred. Mary Kay is survived by her children, Debbie (Don) Lauf of Wibaux, Montana, Donnell (Jeanne) Michels of Wibaux, Diane (Osman) Krogstad of Fredericksburg, Virginia and DeLayne (Kelly) Shanahan of Shakopee, Minnesota; her grandchildren, Dion (Amber) Lauf, Dana (Brian) Kingsley, Brandon (Jaime) Michels, Desiree (Peder) Schillo, Brock and Laci Krogstad and Kellen Shanahan; her great-grandchildren, Lanie and Cambrie Lauf, Kaleb and Kaylee Kingsley, Stella and Aspen Michels and Peyton, Sadie and Barrett Schillo. Live streaming of the services is available on pre-approval on the Tri-Parish Beach-Golva-Medora Facebook page: Tri-Parish Catholic Beach-Golva-Medora (facebook.com) . In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Golden Valley Manor, 260 5th Street SW, Beach, North Dakota 58621. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.