Mary Mittelstet

Mary Vignon Goodno Mittelstet passed peacefully from this life January 21, 2016 at Enid, Oklahoma. She was born on May 31, 1921 to M. Erma Swiger and George R. Goodno at her great-grandparents' home three miles west of Aline, Oklahoma. The oldest of six children, Mary began Kindergarten in Oklahoma City, lived in Hart, Ludington and Muskegon, Michigan and returned to Aline by the time she was 10 years old. Mary graduated from Aline High School as well as her husband Freddie and their two children Linda and Kirk. From the time she was 14 she worked in her parents' General Merchandise Store. In 1941 she attended Enid Business College and worked part time for the Oklahoma Unemployment Office. After graduation she worked for Stephenson Accounting office before moving back to Aline as the Assistant Postmaster. Mary and Freddie Mittelstet were married, Dec. 2, 1942 at Enid Central Christian Church while he was on furlough from the Army Air Corps. They leased the Champlin Station in 1951 and Mary kept the books while the children were in school. When Linda and Kirk were away at college, Mary returned to work as bookkeeper for C.R. Anthony and then as a clerk at Designer Show Case in Cherokee.

She was a member of the Aline Order of the Eastern Star chapter, Aline American Legion Auxiliary, Enid DAR and Goodenow Family Association. She was an active member of the Aline Christian Church, Home Demonstration Club and a 4-H Club leader. Mary and Freddie became "Winter Texans" after retiring, making many annual trips. Mary was steadfast in documenting family history and genealogy became her primary hobby during retirement. She and Freddie took many trips to conduct research. In 2001, Mary published a pictorial history book of Aline for the town's Centennial. Her 38 year project saving clippings of Births, Marriages, Obituaries and Soldiers from the Aline Chronoscope and area newspapers dated 1901 to 2008 was finally completed and indexed in 2009. It was accepted into FamilySearch.org research database and an electronic copy was donated to the Enid Cherokee Strip Heritage Center for their reading room. Family and traditions were very important to Mary and Freddie, especially their four grandchildren. Each summer for twelve years, they took the grandchildren on a "Grandparent" trip, traveling by motor home to many Oklahoma state parks, surrounding states and finally to Carlsbad Caverns. Mary and Freddie happily welcomed summer, weekend and school break visits at their farm with their grandchildren. For nine years, Jarrett drove the other three grandchildren to the Aline farm and they helped cut and decorate the Christmas tree.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Link, Bill and Russ Goodno and husband, Freddie.

She is survived by her brother, Ted and Louise Goodno; sister, Barbara Barton; sister-in-law, Judith Goodno; daughter, Linda and Emmett Carter; son, Kirk and Madelyn Mittelstet; grandchildren, Jarrett and Kresson Carter, Andrea and Sonel Aggarwal, Staci and David Diaz and Matthew and Jennifer Mittelstet plus eight great grandchildren, who gave her much joy; numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is thankful for the loving care given by the Hackett family and staff of Greenbrier Assisted Living and Nursing Home in Enid.

Memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Aline Christian Church. Burial will follow at Aline Star Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Aline Christian Church through Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Helena.