Mary Busta

Mary Busta, 71 of Wahpeton, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.  Her Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 2 pm, with visitation one hour before the service, at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton.  The burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Wahpeton.

Mary Jo “Bugsie” Busta was born on April 17, 1953, to Walt and Dorene (Winefelt) Busta, in Breckenridge, MN. She attended grade school at St. John’s Parochial School in Wahpeton, ND, where she was also the class secretary. In July of 1967, Mary and her family moved to a farm where Mary was the happiest for the next 37 years. She was very active on the farm with her dogs, cats, and horse, collecting old cars and yard work.

Mary was active in 4-H and played rhythm guitar in the high school stage band. She was the first female in Richland County to work in a filling station. 

In the fall of 1971, Mary attended NDSSS in Liberal Arts, she then enrolled in the LPN program, followed by a 4-year Agri-Business Course and an auto body class. She worked a variety of jobs, which included St. Francis Nursing Home, Music City Center, Ron and Donna Sherven, her father’s Texaco station, and the Super 8 Motel. In 1974 Mary became an EMT. She also taught guitar lessons played guitar and French horn in Tilford Kroshus’s Stage Band, and sang with the Wildcat singers.

In 2004 Mary moved to town, where she enjoyed biking and volunteered at St. John’s Church. 

Mary is survived by her brother-in-law, John Gagelin; sister, Jane (LeRoy) Stein; brother, Michael (Sue) Busta; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her father, Walter; mother, Dorene; close friend, Marian Saunders; her sister and best friend, Kathy; aunts, uncles, and grandparents.