Anton “Tony” Materi, 97, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 14, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Fr. Michael Griffin officiating.
Military Rights will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
A time of fellowship and refreshments will be held at the church hall following the Military Rights.
His graveside committal service was held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 10, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Aberdeen.
Family and friends may sign Anton’s online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.
Anton Materi was born February 15, 1923, to Valentine and Josephine (Heilman) Materi on the family farm near Hague, ND. This is the area where he was raised and attended rural schools. Tony was the youngest of four children. After his mother’s death, Tony’s father married Katherine Schumaker, a mother of two. Together, the couple had seven more children together.
At a young age, Tony enlisted in the United States Army. After being trained at tank school in Killeen, TX, Tony returned to the farm for a short time due to family hardship. He later served his county in the Army in Japan during WWII.
Tony was united in marriage to Agnes Malsom on November 20, 1950, at Hillsview, SD. The couple moved to Aberdeen, where they made their life-long home. Tony had a 36-year career at Northern State College (now University), working from 1952 until 1988, at which time he retired. He and Agnes raised five children and shared 58 years together before she passed away on February 5, 2009. Tony became a resident of Avera Mother Joseph Manor in January of this year and continued to reside there until the time of his death.
Tony was an outstanding gardener and an avid fisherman. He enjoyed going on camping trips, fishing with his family, and playing Pinochle. Tony especially enjoyed time spent with his family. They were his life. He will be dearly missed by all of them and will always be remembered as having a smile on his face and giving the best bear hugs.
Blessed to have shared Tony’s life are his children: Mercedes Buchanan, Elaine (Steve) Arntz of Arlington, TX, Linda (Brad) Fritz of Missoula, MT, Marie (Bill) Leonard of Minot, ND and Mark Materi of Aberdeen; grandchildren: Becky (Ross) Burdick, Brian Buchanan, John (Whitney) Buchanan, Lorie (Charles) Alexander, Jason (Kristen) Arntz, Matthew (Kirsten) Arntz, Chad (Kristen) Fritz, Jennifer Fritz, Patrick (Rachelle) Fritz, Benjamin Leonard, David (Kelsey) Leonard, Beverly Leonard, Vanessa (Devin) Theige, Victoria Leonard, and Kathryn (Jamie) Wilkinson; great-grandchildren, Ashley Burdick, Brett Buchanan, Sarah Buchanan, Liam Buchanan, Jack Buchanan, Charlie Buchanan, Abigail Arntz, Brady Arntz, Benjamin Graff, Kaitlyn Graff, Kaleb Arntz, Gabriel Arntz, August Arntz, Joseph Fritz, Jacob Fritz, Elizabeth Fritz, Emily Fritz, McKenna Fritz, William Fritz, Andrew Fritz, Julia Fritz, Caio Leonard, Luca Leonard, Kainen Leonard, Ayden Johnson-Theige, Jema Theige, Chael Theige, Oliver Theige, and Ayla Theige; great-great-grandchild, Cohen Buchanan; and two sisters, Mercedes Weber and Ange Kamala.
Tony was preceded in death by his wife, parents, three brothers, seven sisters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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