Mary Koepp

Mary Ruth Koepp, age 91 of Belle Plaine, died on April 23, 2025 at her independent living apartment at Kingsway Senior Living surrounded by her family. Funeral Service will be at11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 28, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine and one hour prior to the funeral at church. Rev. Ted Vanderpan will officiate. Interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery.

Mary was born on July 18, 1933 in Helena Twp. New Prague, MN to parents Fred and Hannah (Scharf) Ruehling. She was baptized and confirmed at Friedens Ev. Lutheran Church, Lanesburgh Twp, MN and went to country school in the New Prague area. Mary was the 4th of 4 children, and she loved growing up on the family farm with her siblings Caldwell, Betty and Harriet. She graduated from New Prague High School in 1950 and worked at the bank in New Prague.

As a young woman, Mary loved to go to the local dances. There, in 1949 she met the love of her life, Frederick Koepp. Mary and Frederick exchanged vows on November 13, 1952. They then lived on a farm in Blakeley Township. Their marriage was blessed with 63 years and five wonderful sons & daughters, Dave, Karen, Sharon, Allen, and Brent. Mary was active in the community of Belle Plaine. She enjoyed farming events, a custodian at the Lutheran Home (30 years), being a custodian at St. John Lutheran Church, and family and church events. Her family was a very important part of her life, and she was so proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren plus great-great-grandson, and most of all, her loving husband, Frederick who died in 2015. In 2020, she moved from the family farm to Kingsway Senior Living.

She is survived by her children, David (Char) Koepp of Jordan, Karen Dobesh of LeSueur, Sharon (Duane) Wolters of Arlington, Brent (Wendy) Koepp of Belle Plaine; daughter-in-law, Sally Koepp of Belle Plaine; 16 Grandchildren; 38 Great Grandchildren; 1 Great Great Grandson; sister in-law Alverna Laabs of New Prague, brother in-law and sister in-law Armin (Irene) Koepp of Shakopee, brother in-law Wesley Koepp of Belle Plaine, sister in-law and brother in-law Sanarose (Ron) Krenik of Le Sueur, sister in-law Lynette Koepp of Belle Plaine, brother in-law Bill Koepp of Bloomington, sister in-law Janel Schmidt of Belle Plaine; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Frederick; son, Allen Koepp; son-in-law, Lynn Dobesh; parents, Fred and Hannah Ruehling; brother, Caldwell (Leona) Ruehling; sister, Betty (Henry) Jabs; sister, Harriet (Carl) Plekkenpol; brother-in-law, Jerry Laabs; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Earl (Loraine) Koepp; brother in-law and sister-in-law, Norman (Marilyn) Koepp; sister-in-law, LaVonne Koepp; and brother-in-law Rodney Koepp.

“God be with you until we meet again.”