Mary Ann Raher

Mary Ann Raher, of Aberdeen, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, with her family at her side. At the time of her death, she was 79 years old.

Mary Ann was born on March 24, 1930, in Alton, Iowa. She was the tenth of eleven children of Ann Marie (nee Hastert) and Leo Kettler, whose parents immigrated to this country from Luxembourg. Mary Ann graduated from LeMars Central High School at the top of her class, was editor of the school year book and lead baton twirler.

After high school, she worked as the executive secretary to a bank president in Sioux City. She was then recruited to work for the FBI in Washington D.C. While at the FBI, she lived in a Georgetown brownstone and enjoyed the social life of many politicians and agents. She vividly remembered meeting JFK at one of those affairs.

During a visit home, she met Sylvan Raher, a handsome clever carpenter, and became his bride. Mary Ann quit working while Sylvan built the family home, and together, they raised three children and two precious dogs.

When her youngest child reached 10th grade, she returned to work. She loved dressing up for the office, and despite her busy schedule, she sewed almost all of her daughters' clothes. She retired as credit manager of Midwestern Paper, a division of International Paper, when they closed their office. She won the company's national award for the best credit manager several years in a row. She was a devoted member of the rosary society at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City.

After Syl's death, she moved to Aberdeen in 2002, where her pies, sharp wit and flamboyant spirit became well known. No one made better pie than Mary Ann. She is survived by her close and special friend Charles Hubbard and by her children Steven Raher, Robin (Frank) Franciscovich and Nancy (David) Kessler; along with her grandchildren Amy Raher, and Martin, Maria and Nick Franciscovich.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Interment will be in the Kettler family plot in Alton, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Breast Cancer Alliance of Grays Harbor.