Mary A. Wells

Mary Ann (Berreth) Wells, 77, passed away on December 29, 2025, in Wakefield, Nebraska. The memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ (1407 W 18th St, Sioux City, IA 51103), with Pastor Jacquline Morgan officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.

Mary Ann Berreth was born February 15, 1948, in Aberdeen, SD to Roy and Margaret Berreth, along with older sisters Sharon and Diane, and followed in 1949 with her best buddy and brother Jim. She grew up assisting with the family business’s bookkeeping for her father's painting, construction, and replacement window and door business, known as Mary, the Little Mess Maker.

She graduated from Vermillion High School in 1966. She proceeded to USD in Vermillion for two years, achieving a teacher's certificate and taught for 2 years at St Aloysius in West Point, NE and one year at White River School District, White River, SD. She was able to complete her AA through Des Moines Area Community College in 1971 and then entered the US Women’s Army Corps as a clerk.

Following her tour of duty, Mary Berreth McNulty gave birth to Patricia and finished her BA at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1976. She received a Math Scholarship Award. With her small daughter, she lived with her parents in Mapleton, where she substitute taught for the Maple Valley/Castana School District. Also joining her sister Diane at Hirschbach Motor Lines the world’s largest carrier of fresh bananas, doing Drivers Logs and Safety Records from 1981 to 1987

During this time, Patty (Patricia) stayed in Mapleton for the summers, helping her grandfather with marketing windows and doors through county fairs. Mary met Ken at the Sioux City Community Theatre production of The Boyfriend. They married in 1984. Additional children were not to be and Roy and Margaret disappeared to California with Patty for 8 years.

Ken worked with balloons and song, and Mary left Hirschbach to manage their new business, Celebrate! Gifts and Balloons at 5th and Nebraska. It expanded to include a second location in the Indian Hills Shopping Center. Eventually, retail included Magnetic Therapy Jewelry at Renaissance Festivals and Craft Shows until Mary’s health no longer permitted her to work the crowds.

In 1995, Ken and Mary committed to the United Church of Christ Lay Education program for pulpit fill and church leadership. They served jointly for 7 years in Onawa and Blencoe, Iowa. Thus, we know where we are going and hope to see you there.

Mary is survived by her husband, Kenneth Wells; daughter Patricia (Jay) Bird; grandchildren, Logan and Samantha; brother, James Berreth; and nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Diane Berreth, and Sharron (Vernon) McLeod; and sister-in-law, Sue Berreth.