Mary Anne Wefso

Mary Anne Wefso passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her children, on July 30th, 2026. Mary Anne was born on May 22nd, 1946, in Rushville, Nebraska, to Edmund and Marian (Marcy) Hollstein. Throughout her childhood, Mary Anne was blessed to have welcomed three beautiful younger sisters – Linda, Susan, and Irene. These four would become infamously known as “the Hollstein girls.” Mary Anne grew up in Rushville, Nebraska, graduating from Rushville High School in 1964. Following graduation, she attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mary Anne married John Rath in June of 1967, then moving to Alvarado, Texas where John served in the Army. During that time, Mary Anne continued her studies at Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth. In 1969 they returned to Lincoln, where Mary Anne graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting and Economics. In 1969, Mary Anne welcomed her oldest son, Chris, and twenty-one months later she gave birth to her twin daughters Julie and Cynthia in 1971. From 1968-1977, the family lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. While living in Lincoln, Mary Anne enjoyed taking her children to the swimming pool, attending the neighborhood church, and teaching Sunday school. In 1977, the family moved back to Mary Anne’s hometown of Rushville. She began working for her father at his law firm, where she did abstracting and assisted with other administrative matters for the firm. In 1982, Mary Anne married the love of her life, Fritz Wefso. She also gained two new stepchildren, Jim and Claire. The couple spent many years hosting dinner parties, traveling, spending time with friends, and attending their children’s and grandchildren’s activities. In her later years, Mary Anne experienced the joy of welcoming 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Mary Anne was involved in numerous activities and associations within the community. She served as treasurer of the Methodist church, a member of the park board, library board and hospital board. Mary Anne was also a member of PEO, Legion Auxiliary, Methodist church, and bridge club. She enjoyed participating in a bowling league and water aerobics. She also had fun when walking with friends, shopping with her daughters and sisters, and hiking. She experienced many adventures driving around the beautiful countryside with her mother and father. Mary Anne is survived by her sisters, Linda (Dave) Ocken, Susan Retherford, and Irene Nedved; her children, Julie (Mike) Coomes, Chris Rath and Yvonne, Jim (Cameon) Wefso, Claire Wefso; 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Mary Anne is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Marian Hollstein; Daughter, Cynthia Rath Kull; her husband, Fritz Wefso; brother-in-law Jerry Retherford, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Mary Anne’s loving, caring, and supportive spirit will be greatly missed by her family and friends.