Visitation will be from 2-8 pm Sunday with a 7 pm Rosary followed by a 7:30 pm Scripture Service at the Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. Pallbearers will be Bill Philips, Bob Philips, Dave Cassanova, Tiffany Galvan, ValDez Galvan, and Sarah Walton.

It was Mary's fervent wish that her funeral service be a celebration of her life more than a mournful occasion and expressed her desire for those attending to wear bright colors of rejoicing.

Mary Ann was born March 10, 1932 to William & Blanche (Theobald) Philips in West Union, IA, the youngest of 4 children. She graduated in 1950 from West Union High School. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, IA earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Math & Chemistry Education in 1954. She married Laurence Russell Walton on August 21, 1954. They had a daughter, Theresa Marie and son, Michael Laurence.

Shortly after getting her degree she taught junior high and high school math and science in Ocheyden, IA; Arvada, Colorado; and Alden, Iowa until 1973. During summer sessions from 1961 thru 1965 she attended University of North Dakota in Grand Forks earning a Master of Science Degree in Math & Science Teaching. During her time in Alden she served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Troop Leader and was active in St. Marks's Catholic Church.

Mary Ann then went on to attend Respiratory Therapy School from 1973-1974 at McKennan Hospital, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy. In 1974 she moved to Independence, Iowa where she established the new Respiratory Therapy Department at People's Memorial Hospital.

In 1978 Mary moved to Yankton, South Dakota where she became program director for Respiratory Therapy and Division Chair for Health Sciences at Mount Marty College. In 1994 the Respiratory Therapy program was closed and she continued teaching in the Math and Science Departments. She served on many committees and served as President Pro Tem. She also taught math at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp. She "retired" from Mount Marty College in 2000, but continued to tutor in the Learning Resource Center and agreed to teach a couple more classes. She completely retired in summer of 2003.

Mary was a an active member of Sacred Heart Church, volunteered for many activities to include ushering/greeting, bringing communion to hospitalized parish members and running the kitchen operations for the Annual Fall Bazaar & Dinner. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, taking active leadership roles in the local chapter. Her life's passions were her family, teaching and serving her church. The knowledge, passion for learning and confidence she instilled in her students and family, were among her greatest gifts to those whose lives she touched.

She is survived by her daughter, Theresa Walton, son and daughter-in-law Michael and Cindy Walton, foster daughter Bich (Nguyen) Ho, grandchildren Sarah A. Walton, Tiffany (ValDez) Galvan, David Cassanova, Vincent Ho, and Eileen Ho and great grandchildren Joshua and Miguel Galvan as well as many nieces and nephews. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law Laurence T. (Speed) and Norma (Fritz) Philips, brother and sister-in-law Thomas E. and Marjorie (Ernst) Philips; and sister and brother-in-law Pauline & Earl J. McCart.

In lieu of flowers, Mary and her family requests memorials in her memory be sent to St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain SD 57326 or through their website, www.stjo.org.

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