Mary Helen (Doran) Sautter, daughter of Jack and Celestine Doran, was born on May 11, 1933 at Sturgis, SD.  She attended St. Martins Academy in Sturgis, Mt Marty College, Yankton, SD and Black Hills State College in Spearfish, SD. Mary was a very spiritual person and was devoted to her Catholic faith throughout her life.

She taught at Douglas School at Ellsworth  Air Force Base and later worked as a substitute teacher and teacher's aid in the Wall School System. She loved teaching and talked often of the second graders she taught.

Mary was united in marriage to Thorval Sautter on December 28th 1956 in Sturgis, SD. They lived in Rapid City until 1959 when they moved to Wasta, SD where they owned and operated the Redwood Motel.She reluctantly became an entrepreneur. She worked hard operating the motel while raising six children. She earned the love and respect of all those who worked for her and with her. The family moved to Wall in 1974.

Mary was an active member of St Patrick's Church in Wall where she served as Coordinator of the School of Religion and St Patrick's Alter Society. She  worked to re-open the Wall Library and was a part time librarian. She was a member of the Wall High School Booster Club, from which she received a Club Member Award.

They moved to Rapid City in 1994 and was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church. There she served with the Twelve Apostles and Holy Elders. She sang in the funeral choir and was a member of the Wednesday morning Prayer Group.

She enjoyed traveling and attending many conferences while Thor was employed as manager of West River Electric. In their retirement years, Mary and Thor enjoyed many Elderhostel Travel and Learning Experiences with her sister Ramona and her husband Walt Saubers.

Mary was a wonderful mother, had special relationships with all of her grandchildren, and was a good friend to so many.  She was kind to everyone, always put others first and cared deeply for her family.   She will be greatly missed.

Grateful for sharing her life are her sister Ramona (Saubers), Sturgis, SD, brothers Ed Doran (Linda), Broomfield, Colorado and Bill Doran (Rosemarie), Grants Pass, Oregon, She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband,Thorval, her brother, John Doran and sister Isabel Spaid.   She is survived by her children, John Sautter (Kim), Elizabeth Hamburg (Randy), Suzanne Lambert (Kelly), William Sautter, James Sautter and Margaret Garrison (Loyd),  She was blessed with 13 Grandchildren, 8 Great Grandchildren, and one Great Great Granddaughter.

A Vigil and Rosary service will be held on Thursday, June 26th at 6:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Church with visitation at remembrances at 6:30pm. There will be  a Funeral Mass being celebrated the next day, June 27th at 11:00 am also at Blessed Sacrament Church. . A private interment of ashes will take place at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Mary would prefer any charitable memorial gifts be directed to Catholic Social Services, 529 Kansas City St. Suite 100, Rapid City, SD 57701; or to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, Excellence in Education Fund, 243 Founders Park Dr STE 102, Rapid City, SD 57701. https://bit.ly/bhexcellenceineducation