Mary Viola (Arthur) Kusek, 100 years old, died peacefully on Friday, June 19, 2026 at Newport House, Omaha, NE. Visitation will be Friday, June 26, 2026 from 5-7 PM at St. Josaphat's Catholic church with a rosary following at 7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, June 27 at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City, NE. Father Richard Pionkowski will celebrate the mass. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Memorials are suggested to St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City, NE or to the Kusek family for a later designation or to the donor's choice. The funeral mass will livestream on the Higgins Funeral Home Facebook page. The direct link is facebook.com/higgins.funeral.home.loup.city/

     Mary was born August 1,1925 at Broken Bow, Nebraska to Francis Leo Sr. and Mabel (Sells) Arthur. She was the eldest of four children. Mary attended the Custer and Valley County rural schools as a young girl and proudly graduated from Arcadia High School in 1943. After graduating from High School with a teaching endorsement, she taught at a rural school (Rosebud) on the edge of Custer County, NE. She met the love of her life, Raymond Frank Kusek Sr. at a dance. They were married at St Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City on September 6, 1944. They raised their family while farming in Sherman County until Ray's retirement when they moved to Loup City. Mary was a devoted housewife, mother and worked at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Loup City until she retired.

     Mary was an avid gardener raising vegetables to preserve for the winter months for her family as well as raising chickens. She loved to sew and made most of her daughters' clothes along with making many dolls, Care Bears, pot holders, etc. for her children and grandchildren's enjoyment. In her spare time, Mary crocheted and embroidered many gifts for her family that they still cherish. She loved raising flowers and belonged to the Sherman County Flower Club, and for many years, she grew flowers to take and to compete at the Sherman County Fair. She was well known for being a great cook/baker and always had homemade chicken noodles and homemade bread every Saturday for lunch for those that came to enjoy. Every weekend you would find her kitchen full of homemade pies, cakes, cookies, rolls and/or kolaches.

     Mary was a member of the St. Josaphat's Catholic Church and the Rosary Solidarity leading many rosaries at church or at Rose Lane Nursing Home. Mary served many years as a Eucharistic Minister at the church. She was also very active in the Catholic ladies’ circle acting as chairman many years serving many funerals and church functions. Mary volunteered for years for the Red Cross and donated many units of blood. She was also active in an Extension Club and was her children's/neighborhood 4-H leader for many years.

     Faith and family were at the heart of Mary's life. She is survived by her immediate family including one son and daughter-in-law Michael and Frankie Kusek of San Antonio, Texas; six daughters and sons-in-law, Sandy and Harold Arnold of Grand Island, Colleen and Robin Mayo of Omaha, Phyllis and James Edwards of Ord, Margaret and Larry Sweley of Omaha, Elizabeth and Dan Rubin of Plattsmouth, and Rita and Kurt Frickel of Omaha. She is survived by 25 grandchildren, two step grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 5 great, great grandchildren, and six step great grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Catherine Evans and one sister-in-law, Marlyn Arthur.

     Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Kusek Sr., a son Raymond Kusek, Jr., her parents, Francis and Mabel and brothers Francis and Patrick Arthur.

     Mary will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, deep faith, and love for her family. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched, the lessons she shared and the love she gave so freely.