Mary Jo Dathe died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of September 5, 2023, at the Spring Valley Care Center in Spring Valley, Minn.
Mary Jo was born on June 29, 1933, to Carl and Mary Gail (Steffens) Boucsein in Spring Valley, Minn. She graduated from Stewartville High School in 1951 and moved to Spring Valley to work at the Osterud Agency where she met and married Gordon E. Dathe on December 10, 1955. She raised two sons, David and Gene. After the death of her husband in 2006, she married Donald G. Oss on July 30, 2014.
Mary Jo was active in the Spring Valley community for many years, including being a member of the library board and the city council. She was very honored to be named Citizen of the Year in 1989. She enjoyed being the secretary-director of the Spring Valley Historical Society from 1970-1995. She was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, including teaching the Bethel Bible Series.
Her hobbies included writing, photography, genealogy, gardening, traveling, cooking, reading, birding and making scrapbooks for her grandchildren. She loved writing a weekly column on local history for the Spring Valley Tribune titled, “Glimpses of Yesteryear.” She was a published author, writing “The Laura Ingalls Wilder Connection” (1990).
Mary Jo is survived by her husband Don Oss, her sister Cynthia Stoltenberg living in Anchorage, Alaska; two sons, David (Cindy) and Gene, both retired and living in Spring Valley; four granddaughters: Rheanna, Kristen, Alicia and Rosalyn; two step-grandchildren, Natasha and Michael; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Mary Gail Boucsein, husband Gordon Dathe, and sisters Catherine Kvall and Barbara Oviatt.
A memorial service is planned for Wedndesday, September 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Minn., with Pastor Jolene Knudson-Hanse officiating. Memorials may be sent to the Spring Valley Historical Society, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or the Spring Valley Food Shelf.
Online condolences may be left at Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
Anonymous says
Mary Jo’s mom and my mom were sisters. I remember years ago how I loved when our family traveled to , Spring Valley, Wi to Spring Valley, Mn. and Racine to visit families. I loved Mary Jo for her love of community,Eleanor her interest in history and her care and concern for her grandchildren. M.J. was as sweegt as they come. I cry at this loss but know I will see her again in heaven. Eleanor G. M. Onalaska, Wi