Mary Elizabeth (Holden) Bubnash

Mary Elizabeth (Holden) Bubnash passed away amidst the loving vigilance of her family on October 20, 2021, at Benefis Peace Hospice House. She was born to Cecilia Madeline (Cichosz) and Raymond William Holden on November 26, 1929, and raised on their family farm and cattle ranch near Hogeland, Montana on “The Big Flat” area of the Hi-Line. Her six younger brothers were born over the next 13 years. When asked how many children they had, her parents liked to say “One and a half dozen … one girl and a half dozen boys!” Mary took up photography during her senior year of high school having been inspired by her uncle, George Cichosz, who had given her a Kodak Brownie camera. She moved to Great Falls after graduating from Harlem High School in 1947 to attend the College of Great Falls in order to pursue a career in journalism. She always remembered with fondness living with her aunt Anne (Cichosz) and uncle Frank Olszewski and her first-cousins, Joan, Doris, and Frank, during this time. By and by, fate would have World War II Veteran, Robert Michael Bubnash introduce himself to her one night at the Jockey Club. One thing led to another and they wed at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on The Big Flat on May 8, 1948. They brought six children into this world over the next 11 years. Her husband Robert passed away from a heart attack on Christmas Day, 1966. The professional skills which Mary had acquired in college facilitated various clerical jobs she went on to fulfill. She loved baby-sitting all of her grandchildren as they came into her life at home and in Wisconsin. The extent to which she selflessly helped and took care of so many others in so many ways almost every day for almost all of her life is beyond words. She enjoyed and was wonderfully gifted at sewing, apparel-crafting, decorating, renovating, flower-gardening, and cooking. She used her gifts to brighten the lives of everyone around her. Mary is survived by her children, Ronald (Linda) Bubnash, Linda Towns, Andrew (Kathy) Bubnash, Theresa (Jack Storer) Bubnash and John and Richard Bubnash; brother, Paul (Sue) Holden; grandchildren, Melissa Bubnash, Tiffany (Mark) Hughes, Heidi, Amy, and Mischa Bubnash Storer, and Robert and Kasey Bubnash; great-grandchildren, Anna and Piper Hughes and Abigail Bubnash; and sisters-in-law, Sharron Holden and Vickie Holden. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, Charles, John, David, James, and Thomas Holden; daughter-in-law, Diana (Hinze) Bubnash; son-in-law, Daniel Towns; sister-in-law, Maureen Holden; and husband Robert’s eldest sons, Terry and Robert “Butch” Bubnash, and Terry’s wife, Karren (Taule) Bubnash; her Big Flat homestead grandparents, Florence (Diederich) and Charles Ellsworth Holden and Bertha (Eichendorff) and Albert Cichosz. Her foremost dying wish was to be with Jesus and Mary. Profound gratitude is expressed to Rev. Fr. Raphael Chiapa for manifold sacramental rites administration. So moved was she by this, did she reprise on one occasion, this traditional communion hymn from her childhood catechism: Jesus, Jesus, come to me, All my longing is for Thee, Of all friends the best Thou art, Make of me Thy counterpart. Jesus, I live for Thee, Jesus, I die for Thee, I belong to Thee, Forever in life and death. Sincere gratitude is owed to the nurses, doctors, and staff of Benefis Hospital and Benefis Peace Hospice House for the endearing, professional care they all provided in the final phase of her life. Disposition and cremation have been well conducted by Schnider Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery followed by a luncheon reception.