Mary Detke Stoke

Jun 14, 1933 - Jul 18, 2014

Mary Loretta Stoke, born in Divide County, ND on June 14, 1933, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 18, 2014 in Carson City, NV. She was raised on her family farmstead north of Alamo, ND and attended the Outlook School for her early years and graduated from Alamo High School in 1951. She married David James Stoke and lived in the Ray, ND and Glacier Park areas before moving to California. Mary resided in the Sunnyvale, CA area until her retirement when she moved to Carson City, NV in 1992. She loved the people, area and history and remained here for the next 22 years. Her entire career was in the communication industry working for one company, Northwestern Bell, AT&T and finally retiring from Lucent Technologies. Mary spent her retirement enjoying her hobbies of crafting and traveling with her brother, Arlin. They took many long field trips to various locations visiting friends and relatives along the way. Nearly inseparable, they were frequently seen together dining out, visiting events around the area and providing their assistance and support to local charities. Mary was a devout parishioner of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Carson City. Mary belonged to the Pioneers volunteer network, the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the Tonopah Historical Mining Park. An angel to those in need, she gave generously to those less fortunate. She assisted many families through her donations and food supplies to the Do Drop In (Rural Center for Independent Living) and she will be sorely missed. She was pre-deceased by her husband, David Stoke, her parents, Albert and Clara Detke, her brothers, Henry and Milton Swenson, Ray, Charles and Arlin Detke and her sister, Alberta Detke. She is survived by her brother, Fred Detke of Peoria, AZ and numerous nieces and nephews. Additionally, she will be greatly missed by many loyal and dear friends. Mary’s kind spirit and infectious sense of humor coupled with an extensive collection of jokes brought laughter and joy to all who knew her. Every neighbor was part of Mary’s family; whom she touched through loving visits, telephone conversations (never short), sharing a meal, or decorating her Christmas tree. She loved the Holiday Season, especially sharing her beautifully hand-crafted ornaments. Her natural, sunny disposition could turn the gloomiest days into rays of hope and brightened the outlooks of everyone she met. FitzHenry’s Funeral Home in Carson City is handling the arrangements. A funeral mass is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at 5:00 pm in the St. Teresa of Avila chapel. A reception at the church will immediately follow the service. Interment will be in the St. Teresa of Avila columbarium following cremation at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a contribution in her name to the charity of their choice.