“The parish is an assemblage of individuals and families coming together for the purpose of worshiping God. Some are famous and unfortunately, some are infamous, and others are “just” God’s children doing the best for their community and their families. One such person was Mrs. Margaret Bangert, who at the time of the parish centennial in 1965 was past the ninety-year mark, putting her within a few years of the founding of the parish. The following are some of her memories of the past at St. Mary’s. Mrs. Bangert was born in the old brick house next to the grade school on Third Street. She was baptized in St. Mary’s Church and went to school there. She attended first grade in a room above the sanctuary, which according to Father Burkley, held over eighty students when he later attended second grade in the same room. Can you imagine a room of that size holding eighty squirming first graders? The nuns were truly saints. In those days children had to be twelve years of age before making their First Holy Communion. In school, they were taught in German in the morning and in English in the afternoon. Mrs. Bangert still had one of her report cards that was in German. Mrs. Bangert had six children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.” - by Ed Quickert