Mary Ann Clinger, 89, of Ansley, died March 5, 2011, at her son's home in North Platte, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer.

Mary Ann Clinger was born to Arthur Carl Mattson and Myrtle (Carlson) Mattson at home in Phelps County near Elm Creek on April 23, 1921. She weighed only three pounds at birth. She attended Snow Ball Country School until 1929 when the family moved to Edmond, Kan. She attended country school through the eighth grade and then went to Edmond her freshman and sophomore year. In 1939 her family moved to North Platte where she graduated from High School in 1941. Mary Ann committed her life to Christ when she was 14 years old. She was baptized in the North Platte Baptist Church. She married Melvin Clinger, who was the love of her life, on Jan. 25, 1945. They farmed near North Platte until 1950 when they moved to Ansley, where they farmed until 1991. In 1991 Melvin and Mary Ann bought a home in Ansley, where she lived until health issues forced her to reside at her son's home in North Platte.

Born to this union were six children. Mary Esther Focken (Max) Chalupa, of Scottsbluff, Sandra Ann Goodwater, of Ansley, LeRoy Arthur (Vera) Clinger, of Kearney, Orin Mark (Becky) Clinger, of Kearney, Calvin Carl (Pat) Clinger, of North Platte, and Melvina Delores (George) Bundy, of Ansley.

Mary Ann loved the Lord and tried to set an example and to be a Christian witness at all times. She was active in her church where she served as the choir director with her love of Christian music. She was an active member of her missionary group and attended multiple bible studies which she continued to do even after she moved to North Platte.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin, in 1998; brothers, Virgil Mattson and SeVern Mattson; sisters, Sarah Sleffel, Sylvia Nelson and Farrel Adkins Broeder; a son-in-law, Clarence Focken; and a grandson, Christopher Chalupa.

She is survived by her six children, 25 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Harold (Nelda) Clinger, of Oregon; sisters-in-law, Laura Bending, of North Platte, and Myrtle Clinger, of Nevada; special friend, Harold Burrow; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at the First Baptist Church in Ansley with the Rev. Bob Hughbanks and the Rev. Bill Ragan officiating. Burial will be in the Ansley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow, with the family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m. A Praise Service will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening at the Calvary Baptist Church in North Platte with the Rev. Dave Logsdon officiating.