Truetken, Mary Margaret

In Loving Memory of Mary Margaret Truetken
June 11, 1958 – February 6, 2025
With heavy hearts, we share the life and the passing of Mary Margaret Truetken, who left us February 6, 2025, surrounded by family. Mary was born June 11, 1958, in St. Louis and lived a life full of love, kindness, and generosity.
A Life Well-Lived
Mary was a beloved wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. Mary dedicated her life to social work, child protection, and Native American cultural matters. Mary was previously the Program Director of The Salvation Army at its Family Haven in St. Louis serving unhoused persons and later the Child Safety Coordinator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis at St. Joseph Church in Imperial and Seven Holy Founders Church in Affton. Mary impacted countless lives with her dedication and passion to serve others.
Mary was known for her genuineness, kindness, unconditional acceptance, and love of family, friends, and anyone. She loved to laugh and sing and care for others – traits which endeared her to everyone she met. She truly had a unique ability to make everyone feel valued and loved, creating a lasting impression on all who crossed her path.
Family and Friends
Mary is survived by her husband, Gary Busiek and her daughter Kateri Truetken Busiek. Mary is also survived by her mother Audrey Truetken (Wray); her sisters Janet Mauller, Pat Endraske (Dale Henderson), Kathy Crocker (Cindy Miller), Karen Elder (Joni Sisky); sister-in-law Sue Truetken, sister-in-law Diane (Tim) Murphy, brother-in-law Don Busiek, and sister-in-law Sue Battig.
Mary also leaves behind a large, loving extended family of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews as well many dear friends who will miss her dearly.
Mary was predeceased by her son Jeremiah Truetken Busiek, her father Libory Truetken, her brothers Dan Truetken and Tom Truetken, and her sister-in-law Claudia Busiek who she has now joined in eternal rest.
Passions and Interests
Throughout her life, Mary was passionate about Native American affairs and issues. Mary was honored to be a member of the board of directors of the American Indian Society of St. Louis in the 1980s. Mary supported the non-profit organization conducting pow wows and other cultural events in St. Louis. Mary always said that she could cook fry bread for 500 persons over a campfire in Jefferson Barracks Park. Her family especially enjoyed it when she made fry bread for 3-4 persons at home. In the 1980s, Mary frequently traveled with Native American St. Louisans to Arizona and South Dakota. Mary brought Native American cultural awareness into her children’s grade school each year. Mary and Gary attended a national pow wow in 2023 and Mary danced every opportunity in the Intertribal Dance around the arena circle.
Mary wholeheartedly supported St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a childhood cancer research charity, because of Jeremiah’s death from medulloblastoma in 2004. The local St. Baldrick’s fundraising event in St. Louis began while Jeremiah was hospitalized and was initiated by Jeremiah’s nurses at Cardinal Glennon Hospital. Mary eagerly and proudly supported her extended family’s coordination and participation in Jeremiah’s Team, our family’s fundraising effort, that will appear for the 21st year next month at the local St. Baldrick’s event. Mary’s particular interest was always to gift the “shavees” with a unique memento for their individual effort honoring Jeremiah and supporting childhood cancer research.
Mary’s enthusiasm for life was contagious, her concern for others exemplified in everything she did from social work to cultural awareness, to cancer research fundraising to sending cards and notes to family and friends – she shared her passions with all those around her.
Memorial Service
Mary’s funeral mass will be Monday February 10, 10:00 AM, St. Cronan (Mary’s home church where she and Gary married and where they baptized their children) 1202 S Boyle Avenue. Mary’s visitation will be Sunday February 9, 4-7 PM (public), Kutis Funeral Home 5255 Lemay Ferry Road. Burial will be graveside at Resurrection Cemetery, 6901 Mackenzie Road, and a repast will be after at @12-12:15 at Seven Holy Founders (where Mary last worked) 6741 Rock Hill Road.

In lieu of flowers, Gary and Kateri request that donations be made to Jermiah’s Team of St. Baldrick’s Foundation or to American Indian Center of Springfield in honor of Mary Truetken’s giving spirit. Charity donation information will be available at the church and at the funeral home.
Fond Memories
As we remember Mary, we hold close the memories of her laugh, her smile, her dancing, her Christmas spirit, her appearances in holiday costumes (Easter Bunny, Leprechaun, every Halloween). Each story and memory that her family and friends share is a testament to the love and light she brought into our lives.
Final Farewell
While we mourn the loss of Mary, we also celebrate the beautiful life she led. Her legacy of love, kindness, and generosity will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. We find comfort in knowing that she is now at peace and watching over us.
Rest in peace, Mary. You will be forever missed and forever loved.