Mary Catherine White

Mary Catherine White, 86, Hanover, KS, died Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the Hanover Hospital.

Visitation was held from noon until 5 p.m. Thursday, February 13, at the Hanover Mortuary with a rosary service following at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Hanover.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 14, at St. John’s Catholic Church. Father David Metz officiated. Janet Fritschi played the organ, and Matthew White sang. Music included “I Can Only Imagine,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” “Ave Maria,” “In The Garden,” and “Song of Farewell.” The reader was Don Klecan. The gift bearers were Mary’s granddaughters.

The pallbearers were Donald P. Klecan, Brian Klecan, Joshua Brinkerhoff, Andrew Feldkamp, Matthew White, and Gabe White.

Burial followed in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery.

Mary was born to John and Margaret (Doebele) Koppes on October 17, 1938, in Beatrice, NE. She grew up on a farm near Hanover, attended elementary school at Bismarck School, and graduated from Hanover High School in 1956. Mary moved to Manhattan and worked as a secretary at Kansas State University for a short while. She returned to Hanover and was united in marriage to Dennis White on February 15, 1958, at St. John’s Catholic Church. This union was blessed with three boys and three girls.

Mary loved living on the farm and keeping the books. For the majority of her working years, Mary spent her time at the Washington County Hospital. She was also an activities director for the long-term care patients there. 

Mary made the best pies and loved to garden, canning her produce. She taught kids to sew and did quilting and embroidery. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, did readings at mass, was a member of the Altar Society, Mill Creek Extension Unit, and was a 4-H Leader.

Preceding her in death were her parents, John and Margaret; husband, Dennis; son, Douglas White; and sister, Patricia Koppes.

Survivors include her children, Cathie (Don) Klecan, Beatrice, NE, Lisa Brinkerhoff, Huntington, UT, Margaret (Fred) Feldkamp, Axtell, KS, Michael (Jane) White, and Dennis (Karla) White, both of Hanover; siblings, John (Jo) Koppes, Clay Center, KS, Jan (Ron) Fedewa, Lansing, MI, and Sharon (Phil) Smith, Denver, CO; twenty-seven grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, with 3 more on the way, and one great-great-grandchild.

A memorial fund has been established to help the community. Contributions may be sent to Hanover Mortuary, c/o Kinsley Mortuary, PO Box 147, Marysville, KS 66508.