Mary Ann Ternes, 38, of Mandan, ND, passed away February 25, 2024, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND surrounded by her family and close friends. Mary was diagnosed with Stage 4 Triple Negative Breast Cancer in December of 2022. Mary fought fearlessly until her very last breath with courage and humor, which is what everyone who knew her loved about her.
A visitation will be held Thursday, February 29 th from 5-7 PM followed by a funeral vigil at Spirit of Life Catholic Church in Mandan, ND. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on March 1st, at 11:30 AM, held at Spirit of Life in Mandan. Burial to follow at 1 PM at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery. A law enforcement precession will lead Mary to the Veteran’s Cemetery after the Mass of Christian Burial.
Mary Ann Hamilton was born on April 15 th , 1985, in Abilene, TX to Candy (Alphonse) Fleck and Walter (Jennifer) Hamilton. Mary grew up in Abilene, TX and Rapid City, SD. She graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in 2003 and attended college at USD in Vermillion, SD.
Mary made her home in North Dakota after college and began her law enforcement career at the Ward County Sheriff’s Department. Over the years, Mary worked for the North Dakota State Penitentiary, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department and was employed at the time of her death by the Mandan Police Department as a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Investigator, which was her life’s goal.
On September 22, 2007, she gave birth to her pride and joy, Oakley James Clementich. Mary loved watching Oakley grow, learn, tinker on projects, hunt, and fish.
Mary met the love of her life, Jonathan Ternes, in 2020 and they were married on September 7, 2021, in Bismarck, ND. Mary was overjoyed to gain two bonus sons, Kaiden and Corbin. Mary loved watching them excel in hockey, hunting with all the boys and spending their summers on the water fishing and playing. In April of 2023, Mary and Jon took the boys to Cancun, Mexico for an amazing family vacation.
Mary had many talents and hobbies. She could make anything out of wood and vinyl, and many beautiful art pieces were made by her hands. At her holiday work gatherings, people would often fight to receive her handmade gifts. Mary would always go above and beyond to make sure her pieces were perfect. Mary loved fishing and conquered her fear of ice fishing this last winter. Mary said, “humans were not made to walk on the water, that was Jesus’ job”. Mary’s sense of humor was unmatched and is something she leaves with those who loved her.
Mary was baptized in Christ by Father John Paul Gardner, on February 21 st , 2024, surrounded by her loving family. This brought her much peace in her final days.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Jonathan; her sons, Oakley, Kaiden and Corbin; her mother, Candy (Alphonse) Fleck, Bismarck, ND; her father, Walter (Jennifer) Hamilton, Abilene, TX; her sisters and brothers; Logan Fleck, Bismarck, ND; Olyvia (Jacob) Wesson, Lubbock, TX; Shyann (Jaden) Russell, Central City, NE; Alexandria Hamilton; Amarillo, TX; Shane Fleck, Bismarck, ND; Victoria Hamilton, Abilene, TX and her grandmother, Claudia Ridley, Eureka, SD. She is also survived by all her brothers and sisters in blue.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents.
The family would like to thank all the physicians and nurses that took care of her during her chemo journey and her final days. We would also like to thank every single person involved in her care at the Bismarck Cancer Center.
The family requests those who wish to express their sympathy with flowers to instead consider donating to the Bismarck Cancer Center.