Mary Elizabeth Stewart

Mary Elizabeth (Harsha) Stewart, 85, of Newton passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025. A funeral service is pending at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Memorials to Wesley Life Hospice may be left at the funeral home.

Mary was born on June 30, 1939, to Wayne and Zelda (Beem) Harsha, and was raised on their farm in Baxter, Iowa alongside her two younger brothers, David and Frank W. Harsha. Sadly, Frank passed away in 1951 at 11 years of age.

Mary met her future husband, Billy Dean Stewart in Baxter and they were united in marriage on November 3, 1954, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua. Mary and Bill were blessed with four children, Ricky Lewis Stewart (Theresa Kelly), Rhonda Lynn Stewart Loder (Greg Loder), Roxene Louise Stewart Tedrow (Michael Tedrow), and Russell Wayne Stewart (Jenny Buffington). Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren followed which gave Mary and Bill continued joy including, Christina and Sam Geer (Mary and Davis), Amanda Loder, Robert and Melissa Stewart (Lily, Jacob, and Connor), Ryan Tedrow (Ezra), and Kyle Waldera. Mary also served as a stand-in mom for friends and family members who needed help.

Over the years, Mary and Bill encouraged their children and grandchildren to graduate from high school and seek employment or to continue their educations to enhance their lives through more fulfilling career choices. They were so proud of their family as each and every one of them were successful in their lives. Mary graduated later in life after pursing her GED at DMACC. Her entire family was so proud of her.

Mary worked at the Earl May Garden Center in Newton and later at Skiff Medical Center. She enjoyed gardening with her husband and freezing and canning her own fruits and vegetables. She and Bill both had “green thumbs.” She was also an avid reader, and you could find her most mornings with a cup of coffee and a newspaper in hand.

Bill could build anything Mary wanted, and she was so happy over the years with the expansion of their home and his many handcrafted gifts. In the waning days of Mary’s life, Bill took pleasure in teasing her and he would say, “Look at her smiling at me. She likes it when I tease her.” And her face showed the joy of being on the receiving end of his love.

The Stewart residence was always teaming with people. Mary’s family was small compared to Bill’s family which included six sisters and three brothers. She welcomed everyone and cared for many family members until their deaths. She leaves behind her husband of 70 years; her children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; her brother, David Harsha; nieces and nephews; neighbors; and friends, including a special friend, Danelle Brown.

The family would like to extend a sincere thanks to Mary’s hospice care givers, Anna, Laura, and Dolly.