Mary Prince Noll
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Named for her beloved paternal grandmother, Mary Prince Noll was born on December 26, 1942 to Margaret Elspeth Rutherford and William Theodore Noll in Minneapolis, MN. On June 26, 2021, Mary succumbed to metastatic lung cancer in her home in Bozeman, surrounded by family. Mary's early childhood was spent in Wayzata, MN. She attended Northrop Collegiate School where she made lifelong friends and was aptly awarded the much coveted Nellie Atwater Friendship Award. She graduated from Colby Junior College and then from University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in education. She went on to teach elementary school in Colorado. In 1966, she married Michael Hamm Ankeny. Mary and Michael had three children, Katharine, Kendall and Christopher. Summers often included trips to Ox Yoke Ranch where Mary's love of all things Montana began: The big and brilliant blue sky, mountains lush with wildflowers each of which she learned to name, open fields of farms, a lone barn in a ranch pasture. They moved from Minnesota to Montana in 1978 where they enjoyed living in Big Sky. In 1982, Mary received a Master's Degree in Education in Counseling from Montana State University and began working for MSU as an academic advisor. Later, she became Director of University Studies. She adored working with college students and helping them explore the University's classes prior to determining their major of study. Mary received many honors throughout her career. She was recognized as the outstanding advisor in the nation by the Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) scholastic honorary. Mary received a number of university teaching awards including the Mortar Board Outstanding Professor Award, the Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award (each twice), the MSU Alumni/Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence (twice). She was also named to Who's Who Among America's Teachers. In 2002, Mary married Michael Burke. Together, Mary and Michael enjoyed exploring the many hiking and ski trails around Bozeman. They participated in Wonderlust classes through MSU. They loved spending time with their children and grandchildren. Mary will be remembered for her affinity for the color red, holiday and everyday traditions, her famous chocolate chip cookies, her canine bias towards golden retrievers, her delight in babies and children, being a loyal friend, her love of gardening and meticulous care of plants, and her ability to make Christmas "magical" year after year. She loved going on yearly ski trips with her beloved childhood friends the "Alta-oids". Mary was preceded in death by her parents Margaret (Rutherford) and W. T. Noll, and her sister Molly Noll Jacobs. She is survived by her husband, Michael Burke, children: Katharine (Kellie) Ankeny, Kendall (Doug) Child, Christopher (Lisa) Ankeny, step-children: Caleigh (Rich) Searle, Adam (Jen) Burke, grandchildren: Orion Ankeny-Green, Lucy Child, Molly Child, Kai Ankeny, Kale Ankeny, and step-grandchildren: Kaden Stone, Gavin Searle, and Teagan Burke, siblings: W. Ted Noll, and Sally (Tim) Ryan. A Celebration of Life will take place August 4, 2021, 2PM, Emerson Cultural Center theater, Bozeman. Condolences & memories may be shared at dahlcares.com.