Mary Ella Nemmers, 86, of Big Spring, formerly of Mitchell, South Dakota, died on Saturday, May 12, 2001, at her residence. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell, South Dakota. Interment will follow at St. Labre Indian Mission Cemetery in Ashland, Montana on Friday, May 18, 2001. She was born on February 9, 1915 in Mitchell, South Dakota and married Joseph Richard Nemmers on August 29, 1938 in Mitchell, South Dakota. He preceded her in death on August 7, 1969. She was a graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University and attended Kent State University. She was teacher for many years in numerous states, retiring from St. Labre Indian School on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in 1980. Mary Ella performed in many amateur plays and was an accomplished artist. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Jim Kurth of Big Spring; six grandchildren, Michael Schmidt and wife, Becky, of Dallas, Robert Schmidt and David Schmidt of Big Spring, Kathleen Tiner and husband, Brian, of Abilene, Abbie Thackrah and husband, Tim, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Jay Kurth of St. Petersburg, Florida; seven great grandchildren, Kyla, Brandon and Kirsten Hall and Haylee Tiner all of Abilene, Jonathon Schmidt of Big Spring, and Victoria and Timothy Thackrah of St. Petersburg, Florida. Mary Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Patrick and Rosella Navin; four brothers, Louis, Kenneth, Virgil and Francis Carlyle Navin; and two sisters, Winifred Bacon and Cecile Harper. The family visitation will be held at Bittner Funeral Home in MItchell, South Dakota, Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at 7:00 PM. Local arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.,
