Mary Reams

Mary Reams, 83, of Brookings, SD, passed away on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at her home. In honor of Mary's wishes there will be no service held.

Mary Janice Halbeisen was born May 5, 1935 in Bismarck, ND. Soon after, she was adopted from St. John’s Orphanage in Fargo, ND by Dr. H. James “Doc” Halbeisen and Ester Bauer Halbeisen. They made their home in Lisbon, ND where Mary attended Saint Aloysius School through 8th grade and then transferred to the public Lisbon High School.

She married Wayne C. Reams on Dec. 9, 1950 and together they had three children. They moved to Two Harbors, MN but returned to Lisbon where they purchased and ran Vogue Dry Cleaners and Laundromat. Mary added a gift shop called “The Something Else”. The couple divorced in 1974, and Mary moved to Sioux Falls, SD where she trained and worked as a surgical technician for Sioux Valley Hospital until 1976. She then went to work for Dr. Gary Reams at his private clinic in Dell Rapids, SD doing lab and office work. When he closed his clinic in 1979, she went to work at the Dells Bar where she worked until 1988. She then moved back to Lisbon, ND and worked at Lisbon Pharmacy where developing photos was her favorite part of the job. Meanwhile, she trained and became a paramedic and went to work for First Medic Ambulance Service where she worked until she retired in 1997. She moved back to the Brookings area and enjoyed retirement while working part time at The Designery, Walmart and GP Downtown Tire at different times over the years. Her favorite retirement past time was living on Lake Campbell with her German Shepherd, Xander. She always looked forward to visits from family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Wayne Reams; her brother Tommy Halbeisen; her fiancé, Steve Swenson; her son, Ricky Reams; her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne “Skip” & Margie (Glenn) Reams.

She is survived by her daughter, Beth Reams (Alan Riedel) of Brookings, SD; daughter-in-law, Melody Reams of Minneapolis, MN; two grandsons, Joshua (Megan) Reams, of Minneapolis, MN, and Wayne Reams Jr. of Seattle, WA; step-grandchildren, Paula Tarp of Monroe WA, Steven Riedel of Sioux Falls, SD and Bailey Riedel of Brookings, SD; great grandchildren and nieces & nephews.

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