Mary Virginia Stevens

Funeral Mass for Mary Stevens, 96, of Baker, will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at St. John's Catholic Church with Father JiJo Alappatt celebrating. Burial to follow at St. John's Cemetery.

Rosary and Vigil will take place at 6:00 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home Baker.

Visitation will be from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker.

For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass for Mary it will be lIvestreamed starting 10 min. before start of mass.

Mary Virginia Kelly was born on December 8, 1929, the daughter of Leo and Johanna (Haubrich) Kelly. She grew up and attended school in Olivia, Minnesota, graduating high school in 1947. Mary attended the College of Saint Catherine and received her RN degree in 1950. She moved to Miles City with her college classmate Therese (Halder) Baldwin and they began their nursing careers at the newly opened Veterans Hospital.

While in Miles City, Mary agreed to a blind date with Orville Stevens and they were married on June 17, 1953, in her hometown of Olivia, Minnesota. Mary and Orville made their home in Baker, Montana, where they raised four children: Patti, Lynn, Tom, and Dave. They carried in their hearts the memory of their daughter, Mary Theresa, who preceded them in death.

Mary's faith was very important to her, and she was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church. She enjoyed and took pride in taking care of the altar linens and decorating for the holidays for many decades.

Mary loved to garden and knit, making afghans for not just family members, but also friends and their children. Her Christmas stockings for every child, grandchild and almost every great-grandchild were anxiously anticipated as Christmas approached. She enjoyed baking and was known throughout the community for the cookies she provided at all Baker Furniture events; most especially her gumdrop cookies and buttermilk brownies. The family was known to "accidentally" make extra mashed potatoes as they knew it would result in a batch of her Spudnut doughnuts.

As Mary and Orville's family grew, she enjoyed supporting her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their various activities. She never forgot a birthday from her grandparent's generation to her great grandchildren without looking at a calendar. Everyone wanted to be on her team when playing board games as her knowledge of history was astounding. Traveling to see new places became an enjoyable activity and in the winter months she and Orville spent time at Gulf Shores, Alabama, where family often joined them. 

Mary lived a full and faithful life and will be greatly missed by her children, Patricia (Richard) Chester, Lynn (Con) Donvan, Thomas (Teresa) Stevens, Dave (Susan) Stevens; brother William (Kathy) Kelly; sisters, JoAnn Kelly, Kathleen Elfering; sisters-in-law Katherine Kelly, Marie Kelly, Cathy Nowak; brothers-in law Ray Stevens, Jerry (Sue) Stevens; grandchildren Meagan (Shawn) Bleth, Kristin (Kenrick) Ehret, Anthony Chester, Daniel (Julia) Chester, Michael Donvan, Kerri Donvan, Matt (Kindra) Donvan, Melissa (Darek) Dygert, Ashlee Stevens, Ryan (Jacqueline) Stevens, Kamron (Christin) Stevens; 21 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Orville Stevens; daughter, Mary Theresa; parents Leo and Johanna Kelly; brothers, Robert Kelly, Thomas Kelly; sister LaVonne (Jim) Winters; Julia and RR Stevens; brothers-in-law Ken Elfering, Steve Nowak; sisters-in-law Diane Kelly, Joyce (Dee) Sowl, and Mary Ann Stevens.