Mary Catherine Kao, 97, died January 4, 2011 at her home in Big Sandy of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday January 11, 2011 at the Big Sandy Methodist Church with Pastor Marvin Eldridge officiating. Burial will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Mary's honor may be made to memorial of one's choice. Mary was born December 3, 1913 in Kansas City, Missouri to John and Lena (Cooley) Minshall. She was raised in Kansas City and graduated from Northeast High School. Mary worked for the City Bond and Mortgage Company in Kansas City, Missouri as a secretary. She went to Fort Peck, Montana to visit her parents who were working on the dam, she met Lewis Kao and after a six week courtship the couple married on September 22, 1938 in Glasgow, Montana. Mary went to work at the Culbertson State Bank and worked for them for thirty years. They had one daughter Georgia. Mary then retired from the bank for two weeks and then returned to work again for another ten years. The couple moved to Big Sandy in 1996. Mary enjoyed reading and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters and one brother. Mary is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Georgia and Clarence Baxter of Big Sandy, Montana. One brother George Livingston of Davenport, Washington. Two grandchildren: Michael Baxter of Spokane, Washington, and Matthew (Lisa) Baxter of Glasgow, Montana. Two great grandchildren: Zachery Baxter of Spokane, Washington and Bailee Baxter of Glasgow, Montana.