Mary Lou (Sindelar) Rydl, 88, of rural Minatare, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 6th, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. Mary Lou resided on the farm northeast of Minatare most of her life, up until her passing.
Mary Lou was born on Wednesday August 29th, 1934, in Scottsbluff Nebraska to Mary (Holidae) Sindelar and Louis Sindelar of Scottsbluff. They resided on a farm north of Scottsbluff in the Lake Alice School District, until Mary Lou was in the third grade. It was then that her parents bought a farm just east of Lake Minatare in the Hope School District. She attended Hope School until the eighth grade. Oh, the stories she would tell of going to school in a one room classroom in the country and how it was a challenge on cold winter days. During the summer, her chores included herding her little ensemble of goats, sheep, geese, and ducks down to the lowline irrigation canal for their daily drink and swim. “Better watch out for that ram as he would sneak up behind you and butt you from behind.” Mary Lou also worked very hard in the fields alongside her parents.
After Hope School, Mary Lou attended Minatare High School. One of the highlights in High School for her was when she tried out for the Lux Beauty Bar Beauty Contest. She won as the most beautiful 15-year-old in the United States. Her picture was sent to Hollywood to be entered into the national contest, which was Judged by June Haver and Mark Stevens, motion picture actors. As the winner of the local contest, she won a Lady Elgin wristwatch. Mary Lou was also an active member of the Hope Ladies Club, where she served as President for two years. When she was in the 10th and 11th grade, she typed 24 member books for the Hope Club as copy machines didn’t exist at the time.
Mary Lou graduated from Minatare High School in 1952. She moved to an apartment in Scottsbluff and went to work for Scottsbluff National Bank on a posting machine. During this time, she met Frank Rydl from Omaha, Nebraska. They were married June 15th, 1953, and moved out to the farm with her parents where they started their career as a couple, farming. In the mid-50s, Frank and Mary Lou were able to buy the farm right next to her parents. They began building a home of their own on the property, doing most of the work themselves over the next five years. Mary Lou kept very busy, helping her husband on the farm. She grew a huge garden with many flowers everywhere. She loved animals and they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks and geese. Holidays consisted of roasted duck and goose, along with potato dumplings and sweet cabbage. She also helped her husband make deer sausage, along with Czech (Jaternice), Polish, and German sausages which they loved to share at the Czech Club Dances. Mary Lou and Frank were both Czechoslovakian and were members of the Czech Club. They both spoke Czech fluently. She loved to Polka Dance, and you would often catch her polka dancing throughout her house, even if there was no partner.
Mary Lou loved going to Lake Minatare to fish for walleye, swim, and roast hot dogs. In her later years, she was perfectly content to watch deer, rabbits, birds, geese, and cranes passing through. She also loved watching and reading the ancient history of people and cities on National Geographic.
She is survived by her four daughters: Judy Bangerter (Ted), Mary Ann Finken (Denny), Roxane Kraus (Darrell), and Lorelei Deming (Steve). Grandchildren: Michael Bangerter, Misty Patterson (Gordon), Bradon Fullerton, Nathan Fullerton (Lindsey), Aaron Finken (Rachel), Anee Fullerton, Lindsey Dickson (Andrew), AKacia Kraus, Nicholas McCabe, Richelle McCabe, Stephanie Bremer (Tony), Kaylea Syverson. Great grandchildren: Keegan Jensen, Cooper Patterson, Jordan Scroggins (Anthony), Kaleb Fullerton, Jaxson Fullerton, Gracyn Fullerton, Beckett Fullerton, Ledger Fullerton, Noah Finken, Colette Finken, Ryan Dickson, Perry Dickson, Gracie Syverson, Guinevere Bremer, William Bremer.
She is preceded in death by her husband Frank Rydl, her parents Louis and Mary Sindelar, and Son-in-law Denny Finken.
Her memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10am at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will follow at East Lawn Cemetery.
Memorials can be given to the family to be designated at a later date. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dugankramer.com for the Rydl family.