Mary Rae McInnis Anson, age 91, of Wessington, died on Monday, July 11, 2022 at her home of 91 years. Her Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron. Visitation, will be one hour prior to the service on Wednesday afternoon. Her burial will be at a later date at Rose Hill Cemetery near Wessington.The Service will be live streamed on the Welter Funeral Home Facebook page.

Mary Rae McInnis was born on October 22, 1930 in rural Wessington in the original McInnis house to parents, John and Alice (Graham) McInnis. Mary Rae's father passed away when she was 2 years old. Her families, the Grahams and McInnis, were among the homesteading Scottish immigrants in Rose Hill Township in the late 1800's. Mary Rae's mother, Alice, instilled her with fortitude to overcome life's obstacles. Mary Rae attended country school before graduating from Wessington High School in 1948. After graduation, she worked as a telephone operator, a bank clerk in Wessington and in the South Dakota Revenue Office in Pierre. She lived briefly in California and spent the rest of her life on her beloved ranch.

Mary Rae married Elton Anson in Pipestone, MN, on February 2, 1951. To this union, 5 children were born. Mary Rae made it a point to her children and grandchildren the importance of getting an education. She was known for her cheerful notes and calls; her perennial presence at the SD State Fair family concession stand; her knitting over 3000 pairs of baby bootees; her acclaimed potato salad (refusing to ever taste it!); and her sharp memory full of family history. She was an avid reader and was adamant on "absolutely no computer" but became a techie--emailing, googling, playing solitaire daily, watching cattle sales and even purchasing bulls on internet sales. Most memorable, her love blowing across the prairie for all her family, neighbors and friends, and waiting for the crocuses to bloom and the bluebirds to return. Mary Rae was known to give advice and quotes to her family, her favorites being, "Those who have, have to lose;" and "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."

Mary Rae was a person of moderate means but knew the importance of giving to various charities, including St. Joseph's Indian School and many other Native American causes.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Dr. Mary A. (Dr. Fay A Vittetoe) Anson of Coralville, IA; Alex "George" (Amy Christensen) Anson of Wessington Springs; Elton R. (Lisa) Anson of Miller; and Roberta "Bobbi" (Mark) Anson-King of Canby, MN; 8 grandchildren, Tyler Anson, Torrey Anson, Treyton Anson, Collin Anson, Garett Anson, Matt Anson, Alisha Anson, and Kelton King;  4 great-grandchildren, Ezra, Charlee, and Oakley Anson, and Emmett Anson and soon-to-be baby "Ella" Anson; daughter-in-law, Cindy Anson Eilers of Wessington Springs; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Elton in 2007; and her son, Angus Anson in 1993.

Memorials will be established to some of Mary Rae's favorite charities, SD Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, SD, and St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, SD.