Mary C. Verploegen

Mary C. Verploegen, former women's editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, died May 28 in Ewa, Hawaii. She was born May 26, 1927, to John and Margaret Verploegen at Cottonwood, north of Havre.

Mary attended Cottonwood School and graduated from Havre High School in the spring of 1945. She attended Northern Montana College that fall and taught school the following year at Pine Grove School near Kalispell. She graduated from what is now the University of Montana in the spring of 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. She joined the Havre Daily News as a reporter shortly before graduation ceremonies.

In 1952, Mary moved to Honolulu and was hired as a reporter at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. She later became women's editor.

Mary also worked at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, receiving a fifth-year teaching certificate.

Mary's parents are deceased as are her brothers, Anton, Karl and Paul; and sister, Elizabeth Price. She is survived by brothers Hans and Bill, both of Havre, Al in Great Falls, and sister Hildegaard, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary gave her body to the University of Hawaii Medical School Willed Body Program.

Memorials may be made to the Havre-Hill County Library or to Immaculate Conception Church, 91-1298 Renton Road, Ewa, Hawaii 96706.