Mary Sexton

Mary M. Sexton, 98, of Rockwell City passed away Friday, January 17, 2025.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am Saturday, January 25, 2025 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Rockwell City. Burial will be held at a later date. A visitation will begin at 9:30 am Saturday at the church.

Mary is survived by her children, Keith Sexton and wife, Barb, Ames, daughters Marcia Frerichs, Steamboat Rock, Marlene Buckley and husband, Bob, Des Moines, Monica Peitz and husband, Alan, Perry and Carol Sexton, Fort Dodge; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and sister, June Malliet, Des Moines.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale in 2019; parents, Alex and Regina (Peiffer) Stumpf; siblings, Dorothy Bigelow, Eldora Powers, Dolores Naughton, and Rita Murphy; granddaughter, Katherine Buckley and son-in-law, Doug Frerichs.

Mary Maxine Stumpf was born May 25, 1926 on a farm near Rockwell City. She graduated from Rockwell City High School in 1943 and was then employed by the Calhoun County Farm Bureau as an office assistant until her marriage to Dale Sexton on January 4th, 1947 at St. Francis Church in Rockwell City. Mary was active in her church and community. She was a 4-H leader and was involved with the Calhoun County Association of Retarded Citizens. She was a homemaker and stay at home mother to their 5 children.

Mary had many sewing and handwork hobbies. She learned to quilt and made each of the 12 grandchildren a queen-sized hand quilted bedspread. Mary's efforts were always focused on practicing her faith and loving her family. When the children were grown, Mary and Dale enjoyed many winters in Arizona and did quite a bit of traveling. They loved Rockwell City and were generous in supporting their community. In addition to being role models for their children, Mary and Dale had a wide circle of friends and were always ready to go dancing or play cards.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St Francis Catholic Church. Memorials to the family will go to Rockwell City Revitalization, Golden Buckle Home Foundation and New Hope Foundation.