Mary Virginia Pesta

Long time Mankato resident, Mary Virginia Pesta, age 86, went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 12, 2007 in Helena, MT.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 19, 2007 at Bethel Baptist Church, 1250 Monks Avenue, Mankato, with Rev. David Banfield officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Courage Center in Golden Valley. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Mary Virginia was born August 28, 1921 in Chicago, IL to Edwin Seth and Leora Virginia (Smith) Stevens. She attended school and college in Illinois. Mary Virginia taught school, and was a former member of the Young Business Women's organization and Job's Daughter all in Illinois. On June 20, 1943, she was united in marriage to Charles Joseph Pesta in Granite City, IL. They moved to Mankato in 1955. Mary Virginia was a homemaker for her family, worked at JC Penney's for over 20 years, and worked with individuals with disabilities for over 8 years. Mary Virginia was an active member of the Bethel Baptist Church since moving to Mankato over 52 years ago. She enjoyed reading, swimming, traveling, and spending time with her family. Loving the Big Sky Country, Mary Virginia moved to the Rocky Mountains of Montana earlier this year, where she lived at the Waterford Retirement Community.

Her family members include three children, Mary Virginia "Marigina" Ankerson and husband, Peter of Menomonie, WI, Deborah Kaye Jones and husband, Larry of Lakeville, MN, Charles Joseph Pesta, Jr. and wife, Susan of Montana City, MT; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Mary Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1976, and a brother.