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Mary Jane Coutts • 1926 - 2010 Mary Jane was born on February 20, 1926 in St. Joseph, MO. She was the youngest of nine children born to Charles and Mamie (Eggers) Heater. She was raised in St. Joseph, MO where she worked in the hat factory, candy factory and at Noma Lights until she married the love of her life, E. Russel Coutts on July 19, 1945 in Olathe, KS. Upon Russel’s return from his tour of duty in the Army Air Corp in 1946, they settled in Bowman, ND and took up farming. Russel eventually found his niche in the grain elevators of North Dakota, taking the family to several towns including Crosby, Grenora, Appam, Velva, Regan, Wilton and Underwood. Underwood is where Mary Jane settled and lived the last 30 years of her long life. Mary Jane worked in the hospital and drove the mail for several years, but her greatest joy came from caring for her husband and three children, and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary Jane loved to read and often spoke of the nights on the farm when she would stay up to read by the oil lamp. Much of Mary Jane’s education came from her love of reading. She was active in the homemaker’s groups, taught Sunday school and was a 4-H leader in the various towns she called home. Mary Jane made sure that all of her children received college degrees, ensuring they knew the value of an education. She is survived by her children; Nancy Jane Chandler of Norman, OK; James Howard Coutts and his wife, Jackie of Underwood, ND; and Mary Ellen Dixon and her life-long friend Ralph Johnson of Minot, ND along with her eight grandchildren, Chery(Tim) Bourdeau, Jane (Mike) Keller, Russel Chandler, Kelly, Tiffany and Kimberly Coutts, Steve Krumweide and Cammy (Pat) McCarty, and her nine great grandchildren, Calob and Kiel Werre, Chloe Bourdeau, Zachary and Nathaniel Keller and Jacob and Jaden Chandler, her sister Charlotte Heater of St. Joseph, Mo and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Russel, her mother and father, five brothers, two sisters and two sons-in law. There will be a graveside service for family and friends at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan ND on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Special Olympics, which was dear to her heart, would be welcome in Mary Jane’s name. Officiant: Chaplain Don Andrews Special CD Music: “Amazing Grace” and “Old Rugged Cross” Honorary Urn Bearers: Mary Jane’s family and friends Active Urn Bearer: Kelly Coutts To sign the online guest
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Mary Jane Coutts of Underwood, ND, left this world on March 15, 2010 to join her Lord and loved ones in Heaven.