Marie Alice Kennedy passed away surround by her family on June 2nd, 2023 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.  Marie was born to Archie and Grace Thoe on October 1st, 1945 in Breckenridge, Minnesota.  She graduated from Colfax, North Dakota High School in 1963.  Marie then went on to earned her Business and Music Degrees from Moorhead State University in Moorhead Minnesota in 1967.  Marie then met the love of her life and married Earl Kennedy of Raven Virginia on June 8th, 1968.  Earl was her husband of 44 years and preceded her in death in December 2012.

Marie was employed by the Douglas School System as a Music Educator for 1970 until her retirement in 2015.  Marie's love of music and education earned her the Douglas Teacher of the Year for school year 1986-1987.  At her retirement, the Douglas School System dedicated the music room Marie loved to teach in and honored her by naming the room as the "Kennedy room".  The Governor of South Dakota proclaimed May 29th, 2015 as "Marie Kennedy Day" as a forever memorial for her life long service as a Music Teacher for South Dakota.

Survivors of Marie includer her daughter Stephanie Bushman and her husband Dave of Rapid City, South Dakota, her daughter Colleen and her significant other Matt of Kelso, Washington.  Grandson Connor Bushman and his significant other Andrew of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Granddaughter Lauren Bushman and her significant other Antonio of Brookings, South Dakota.  Sisters Evelyn Iverson and her husband Paul of Fargo, North Dakota, Corrine Sedavie and her husband Rick of Fargo, North Dakota and her Brother Lynn Thoe of Wahpeton, North Dakota.

Marie is preceded in death by her Father and Mother.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7pm Wednesday, June 7th at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Boulevard.

Services will be at 11:00 AM Thursday, June 8th, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hermosa, with Pastor Deb Grismer; lunch to follow.

Burial will be 3:00 pm at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Links for Livestream

https://www.facebook.com/OSLHermosa

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq2_yldbrmLNqTj4J4jui1w