The youngest of three daughters, Mary was born in Beemer, Nebraska, on February 23, 1938, to Wilma and Elmer Nitzsche. In 1946, her family moved to Frazee, Minnesota, near where many relatives had already moved. Her dad was a farmer who never really liked farming. He always wanted to own a hardware store. In 1950, he had the chance to buy the hardware store in Cass Lake, where he also helped in a mission organization.

Mary started to work for her dad in the hardware store when she graduated from high school in 1955. In 1958, she married Paul Berge, and after their two sons were born, she stayed home to be a mom. Paul passed away in 1970, and her dad had retired, but she went back to work at the same hardware store, from which she retired in 1999. She helped her dad continue working in the huge garden he kept at her place, and she was able to pursue the hobby she loved – buying and selling collectibles and antiques. She always said, "One man's junk is another man's treasure."

After marrying Paul, she left the Mennonite Church to join her husband in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Cass Lake, where she continued to serve faithfully and actively for decades. Until her last day, she continued to support their missions work around the globe.

In 2007, she married Glenn Stehman, whom she had known for 60 years. After they were married, they realized that Glenn's first wife Joanne's grandmother and Mary's grandmother were sisters. After a big auction in Cass Lake, they moved to Glenn's place in Hesston, KS.

Once relocated, she soon found herself buying and selling again. Glenn said, "You can take the woman out of the antique shop, but you can't take the antique shop out of the woman!"

Mary was a lifelong lover of Jesus and a good, three-part harmony. She is survived by her sister Mona, two sons, Dale and Jim (Kayla), stepdaughter Sandra Toews (Larry), three stepsons, Randy (Christine), Rick (Kathy), Jeff (Shannon), and a quiver full of grandchildren, great grandchildren, beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her sister Betty, husband Glenn, and stepson Tony.

There will be a graveside service in Bagley, MN, on a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite missions organization.