Mary Jane Todd

Mary Jane Todd, age 97, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at United Living Community in Brookings. Funeral services will be 1:30 PM, Friday, November 19, 2021, at the Madison United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Friday.

Mary Jane (Way) was born on June 21, 1924, on a farm near Wessington Springs, to Russell and Neva (Gist) Way. After she graduated from Hetland High School in 1942, she moved to Ogden, UT, and worked at Hill Field as a civilian clerk typist to support the war efforts. When she returned to South Dakota in 1945, she found a job in Madison, where she met her future husband, Melvin Todd. They married on June 12, 1949, in Madison, where they made their home.

Mary Jane loved being a homemaker for her husband and two daughters, but also had a heart for serving the Lord in the church and in the community. She was involved in many church activities, such as teaching Sunday school, participating in various activities in the women’s groups, crocheting baby sweaters, and singing in the choir, which she did for over 50 years. The highlights of serving the community included singing in the Master Singers group, where they performed the oratorio “Handel’s Messiah”, and participating in the activities of the VFW Auxiliary.

Since she did not pursue a college education after high school, she had the desire later in life to take some classes at DSU just for fun. Several years later, she graduated with a music degree at the age of 61. Mary Jane enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, crocheting, playing the piano, and having family come to visit.

Mary Jane is survived by her two daughters, Val (Rod) Appel of Madison, Lois (Chuck) Searer of Winchester, CA, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her sister, Kathie Marler of Andalusia, AL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Melvin in 1989, and her sister, Joyce.

Please send any memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.act.alz.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Jane Todd, please visit our floral store.