Mary Grace Skovlund, age 77, of Estelline, died Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at home. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 21, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline with a private family burial at St. Petri Cemetery, Bruce, SD. Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Mary was born on November 22, 1938, in Madison, SD, the daughter of Bryce and Pearl (Fletchal) Gilman. She was baptized and Confirmed at Nunda Lutheran Church. Mary was a graduate of the Rutland High School in 1956, and continued her education at General Beadle (Dakota State) in Madison. She was united in marriage to James Gaukel in 1958, and had five sons. She married Ralph Skovlund on November 22, 1969, in Hayti, SD, and had three children including Bridgette Lee, who was adopted.   Mary also worked various places including, waitressing, grocery store clerk, bartender at Lake Campbell, owned and operated the Bruce Recreation, and was the music coordinator at Johnson Park Lake Campbell Roller Rink.   She also was a babysitter in Brookings, nurses aid at ENCC for ten years in Estelline, and custodian and supervisor for 12 years at SDSU. She retired in 2000. Ralph died in February of 2004.

Mary was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline and the Estelline American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed flowers, gardening, feeding the birds and squirrels, her pet dogs, and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children; Vernon Scott (Ingrid) Gaukel of San Diego, CA, Tim Gaukel of Watertown, SD, LeeAnn Sue (Gene) Anderson, Jason (Lisa) Skovlund, and Bridgette Skovlund all of Volga, SD; daughter-in-law, Patti Gaukel of Watertown; sisters-in-law, Shirlee and Judy Gilman; 12 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; sons, James Jr., Steven, and William Gaukel; and two brothers, Robert and Gary Gilman.