Mary Bennett

Mary Kay Backes Bennett, 73, of Idaho Falls, passed away on September 6, 2017, at Morningstar Senior Living Center. She was born March 5, 1944, in Cold Spring, Minnesota to Conrad Backes and Alma Phillipp Backes. She grew up and attended schools in the area, graduating from St. Boniface Catholic High School. While in high school she was the Debate Captain and won the Minnesota State Championship. She attended St. Cloud Catholic Hospital for Nursing in St. Cloud, Minnesota and received her Registered Nursing Diploma in 1966. After receiving her degree she moved to Salem, Oregon by way of Idaho Falls to visit relatives. While there she met her future husband, Marvin J. Bennett. He was recovering from a commercial plane accident in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1965, where he lost his wife, Janet, and two daughters. Mary Kay and Janet were second cousins. On June 17, 1967, Mary Kay and Marvin were married in the Swan Valley Community Chapel. Mary Kay worked part-time as an Registered Nurse the first 28 years of marriage, putting her three daughters through college. She was dedicated to her family. She was also an active member of the Roman Catholic Church. She helped with funeral dinners, soup kitchen, and Coffee Sunday. She would be there when she was needed and she would treat everyone she met the way she wanted to be treated. Mary Kay enjoyed all types of traveling, especially with the motor home. She also enjoyed camping, gardening, sewing, cooking and spending time with her grandkids and family. She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Marvin Bennett of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Marianne Bennett Robledo of Houston, TX; daughter, Christine Bennett Stramel of Henderson, NV; daughter, Roxann Bennett Bridge of Salt Lake City, UT; brothers, Roger and Donald Backes; and 5 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 14, 2017, at Christ the King Catholic Church (corner of 17th Street and Woodruff). A Rosary will be Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge, with a visitation to follow from 7-8 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held