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MARY EMMA LEIBFRIED
Born: Jun 30, 1937
Date of Passing: Feb 19, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMARY EMMA LEIBFRIED
Mary, beloved wife of the late Jim Leibfried peacefully passed away on February 19, 2026 with her children by her side.
She is survived by four of her five children, Deb Molzahn, Bryan (Sherry), Joe (Wendy) and Ann (Richard Groen). She is also survived by four grandchildren, Joel Molzahn, Alex (Liz), Carolyn Molzahn and Nick (Kat) and three great- grandchildren, Zoey, Wylder and Ollie. She is also survived by siblings, Maxine, Vera, Ellie, Bonnie, Joyce, RuthAnn (Gayle) and Jack (Bev) plus other relatives in South Dakota (SD), Minnesota, Iowa and others across the United States. Other survivors include her honourary son Brian (Tara) Wasylyshyn and Ed’s widow Bev.
She was predeceased by her husband Jim, son Ed, son-in-law Werner Molzahn, her parents, Art and Emma Kasdorf and siblings, Floyd, Fred, Ralph, Kenneth, Marian, Frances, and Bertha.
Mary was born in Flandreau, South Dakota (SD) on June 30, 1937 to Art and Emma Kasdorf and was their 10th of 15 children that lived to adulthood. The family moved to a farm in Hidewood Valley, SD in 1942. There was no indoor plumbing, central heating or running water until well after electricity was installed in 1950 and they slept under heavy quilts as the house was not insulated.
Mary went to the local country school for eight grades and then went on to Estelline High School, graduating with the class of 1955. Mary and her sisters, Vera and Ellie were the only three siblings to obtain that achievement. Following her graduation she moved off the farm and found employment at a diner in Brookings, SD where she first caught Dad’s eye, but she was not at first interested. That all changed when Dad asked her to dance to the Blue Skirt Waltz at a local old-time dance. Although they indicated that it was not love at first sight, they were very comfortable with each other from that first dance, married within seven months on December 29, 1956 and had an amazing love story throughout their 68 years of marriage.
Their eldest son Ed (SD) was born on their first anniversary in 1957, followed shortly by Deb (SD), Bryan (Michigan), Joe (Illinois) and Ann (Kansas) as they moved around as Dad pursued his education (ultimately PhD). Mom gladly moved with Dad around the US while he went to school and then ultimately moved to Winnipeg in 1964 when he started with the Canadian Wheat Board. She hoped for a better life and was always glad that she had taken that leap of faith and always gave Dad the credit for the great life that they built together. We all knew though she was the glue that made it work as she was the one managing the household, bank account and us kids so that he could pursue his career which required him to travel frequently.
Mom and Dad moved to Stalker Bay in 1967 which was a great neighbourhood, especially for Mom and us kids, as it provided a strong community of friendship and support. Mom especially enjoyed congregating with the other ladies, often still in their house coats, for coffee at the end of driveways or in one another’s yards.
Over the years Mom thrived in creating a home for Dad and us kids and helping to stretch a dollar by cooking and baking to keep us from eating them out of house and home! The house always smelled of fresh baking and especially her homemade buns or the endless supply of chocolate chip cookies that always seemed to fill the cookie jars, even though that was the first place us kids and our friends went when coming into the house. With us kids being so active and gladly eating anything she would bake, she expanded her repertoire to include candy to the point where she became very well known for her fudge, turtles, licorice nougat swirls to name a few. She made it all look so easy, until we tried those recipes ourselves and realized that it didn’t just take love to make them but a lot of practice, patience and arm strength. It also usually took a phone call to Mom when the recipe didn’t quite work out only to find out Mom didn’t really follow the recipe anymore, had memorized her changes and didn’t document the improvements she made.
Mom also developed a great interest in quilting in her later years and spent hours on the planning, designing and sewing. We, once again, all benefited from her creations which are now genuine heirlooms we will cherish forever.
Mom would drop anything to support us kids and would be at most of our sporting events and was the first to congratulate us on any of our accomplishments or life events. She was our biggest cheerleader!
Mom was an amazing woman and an inspiration throughout her life and this was never more true as she navigated through her journey with dementia and aphasia. Her ability to connect with us even when speaking was no longer an option, and how she lit up when Dad came to visit so that he knew she hadn’t forgotten him, which was his biggest fear.
Mom loved Dad and us kids fiercely though never got over the loss of Ed who passed away in 1981. We know that she is grinning in heaven as she reunited with Ed and with the Blue Skirt Waltz playing as her and Dad get to dance once again.
The family wishes to thank the staff at River Ridge 2 and Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg for helping provide a community of supports for our parents, and for Kelly and the staff at Concordia Hospital for supporting Mom in her final days.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg for the courtyard - 280 Balderstone, West St. Paul, MB R4A 4A6.
In accordance with their wishes, cremation has already taken place and a joint memorial service for both Mary and Jim will be held on June 27. 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Glen Eden Memorial at 4477 Main Street. A private family interment will be held earlier as Mom and Dad will be laid to rest with Ed - Together Again!
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 28, 2026
