Funeral services for Mary Sigman, age 88, of Bison, SD will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 1, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bison, SD. Pastor Florence Hoff will officiate with burial in the Bison Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Joyce Aukland, organist.


Serving as casketbearers are Kevin Hanson, Ed Hanson, Keith Hanson Jr., Shane Miller, John Green and Lynn Green.


Mary Leone (McConnell) Sigman was born March 13, 1921, in Midland, SD to William and Mary Sylvina (McMullen) McConnell. Mary and her two sisters lived in Maitland, SD with their mother for a few years. Her mother was than married to Alexander Calhoon. Mary attended schools in Tombstone, AZ where the family moved due to the health of her stepdad. She also attended school in Whitewood, SD and Lead, SD where she graduated from high school. Mary worked in a drugstore, for a beautician and did domestic house work for many people. She did a lot of babysitting for her younger siblings when her mother played the piano for silent movies. She also babysat for other people.


Mary's mother played the piano for dances and it was at one of these she met James Sigman. They were united in marriage on April 12, 1940 in Newcastle, WY. In 1942 they moved to Mullen, ID where Jim worked in the lead and zinc mines. Mary belonged to a sewing club there. The hostess would decide what was to be done for the day, mending or so forth, and then they would all work together on that project.


In 1948 they moved to the Bison area where they farmed and ranched. In 1971 the family moved into Bison, SD. Mary was active in the Sr. Citizen and held the office of Secretary. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bison.


Jim and Mary enjoyed camping and fishing by themselves and with friends.


Mary passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon at the age of 88 years, 10 months and 15 days.


Grateful for having shared her life are her two daughters, Bonnie (Keith) Hanson, Reva, SD and Patricia (Jerry) Poseley, Bison, SD; eight grandchildren, Kevin Hanson, Suzan Hanson, Noreen (John) Green, Edward Hanson, Keith Jr (Julie) Hanson, Lori (Shane) Miller, Mary (Ron) Zimmermann, and James (Suzanne) Poseley; 11 great-grandchildren, Lance and Lynn Green, Jake, Dalton and Robert Hanson, Kyle and Kent Miller, Bryn and Coy Zimmermann, and Ewan and Leah Poseley; two sisters, Verle Bauernfiend and Norma (Everett) Harris, all of Lead, SD, Alice (Joseph) Malt, Middlesex, NJ; one sister-in-law, Dortha Salter, Moore, OK; three brothers-in-law, Darrell (Dorothy) Sigman, Thermopolis, WY and Teddy (Eva) Sigman, Sturgis, SD; George Sigman, Pensacola, FL, and many nieces and nephews.


Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband James; 2 brothers, Dean and Charles Calhoon; three sisters, Joann Ozanne, Winifred Rachetts, and Vida Krause; two brothers-in-law, Antone Bauernfiend and Oliver Krause; and one sister-in-law, Pat Calhoon.


A memorial has been established to the First Presbyterian Church in Bison, SD.