Mary Rosetta DeSmet

Mary Rosetta (Polfliet) DeSmet, age 72, of Lake Hendricks, SD died Thursday, May 15th at the Hendricks hospital following her courageous battle with cancer for over a year.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. Visitation will be Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a Parish Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall. Visitation will continue on Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at St. Eloi Catholic Church. Interment will follow the service at St. Eloi Catholic Cemetery.

Born in Marshall, MN on September 3rd, 1952, along with her twin sister, Martha Ann. Mary was raised in Ghent, MN. She is the daughter of Cyriel (Shorty) and Ann Polfliet. She received all her sacraments at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, MN.

Mary was united in marriage to the love of her life, Jerry DeSmet, at St. Eloi Catholic Church on May 27th, 1972. They would have been married for 53 years this month. Mary and Jerry were high school sweethearts and dated for five years before they got married. Mary and Jerry have three daughters; Corissa Lynn, was born in Minneapolis, MN, then they moved to Ghent, Mn, and had their second daughter, Sonia Jo Ann and their third daughter, Justina Marie.

Mary had multiple waitressing jobs. She did daycare for 18 years, worked in Schwan’s office for 5 years and then she was a Dietary Specialist in the Hendricks hospital for 5 years. She enjoyed her time with family. She enjoyed entertaining her family, friends and neighbors. She loved all holidays and decorating the house for all occasions along with making large meals for everybody to enjoy. She always told everyone, “Our doors are always open and after 5 minutes, help yourself.” She always dreamed of living on the lake. They built their lake house in 1999 and loved being out in the boat, fishing and watching the lake. She was able to enjoy life at the lake for 26 years.

Mary is survived by her husband, Jerry, their daughter, Corissa (Daren) VanKeulen and their three sons, Trevor, Brett (Emily) and Levi. Daughter Sonia Jo (Al) Dobrenski and their two sons, Kainan (Hai), their daughter Alaina Ree, and Wyatt and his daughter Marli Mae. Daughter Justina (Kris) Parks and their three children, Judaya (Garrett), William and Max. Also survived by sisters Barb (Jans) Kor, Pauline Hoffman, Teri (Don) Krumwiede, twin sister Martha (Jim) Melrose, Margaret (Keith) Kindelberger, brother Mike (Sandie) Polfliet.

She is preceded in death by her parents Cyriel and Ann Polfliet, her grandparents Henry and Cora Polfliet, grandparents August and Irma Vandendries, her infant sister, Mary, and her infant brother, Paul, Mary and Jerry’s infant baby DeSmet, her brother, Joe Polfliet, sister, Kathleen Gawarecki, niece, Cindy Citrowski, nephew, James Kor, niece, Janet Kor, brother-in-law, DuWayne Hoffman, and infant great-grandbaby Christianson.