Mary Janine (Frost) Bullock passed away peacefully, after a second fight with cancer, surrounded by her family on October 27, 2026, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

In keeping with Mary’s loving and generous spirit, it was her decision to give the gift of sight with cornea donation through the Dakota Lions Sight & Health. Her father was a charter (founding) member of the Plains Lions Club and her husband and son were also members.

Visitation, with family present, will be from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield, South Dakota. A prayer service and time of sharing will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Pastor Kody Bullock.

Her funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, at Northwestern Community Church in Mellette, South Dakota. Pastor Doug W. Duncan will officiate. Refreshments and fellowship will follow in the church hall. Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Ashton Cemetery in Ashton, South Dakota.

Both the prayer service and funeral service will be live-streamed via a link on the funeral home’s website below Mary’s obituary. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

Mary was born March 4, 1953, in Redfield, to Eugene Merlin and Wilma Lucille (Thiel) Frost. She grew up on the Frost farm northwest of Ashton, attending school in Mellette, and was the first graduating class of the new co-op Northwestern School in Mellette, in 1971.

In May of 1973, mutual friends introduced Mary to her husband Christopher Bullock in Aberdeen, and they were quickly married just a short time later on September 8, 1973. A daughter, Kary, and son, Kody, would eventually complete this union. They were nearly inseparable until Chris’s early passing in 2006.

Mary followed Chris to Rapid City seeking union plumbing work, but work was slow in most of South Dakota, so they moved to Lodi, California. Mary really never could leave Ashton behind, often convincing Chris to drive through the night on short trips back “home” to be with family. After only about a year and a half in Lodi, they decided to move back to Athol and the Ashton area the family knew as home, where Chris started his plumbing business.

Mary worked early on as a substitute in the Ashton Post Office, but mainly was a stay-at-home mother until starting to substitute teach after both children entered school, which eventually led Mary to becoming a para-professional in the special education department at Northwestern School, where she graduated years before. Mary was often known for being the person to talk to, not only for students but for staff and families. She was almost a second mom to many and easy to talk to, often with a smile on her face.

Mary was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and after undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, her cancer entered remission. Doctors had determined her free of cancer, only for it to sadly return with an official diagnosis in August of this year at St. Mary’s Hospital – Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota.

Family was very important to Mary, and she instilled this in her children, often taking trips to visit relatives all over the United States. Mary was active in many things, including Relay for Life, the Northwestern Community Church, being a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, and helping with numerous school and community functions, including running concessions at games for many years, bowling, darts, birthday club and bridge. She enjoyed reading, often getting books that seemed to overwhelm her son, saying she had a library rivaling many cities.

Mary is survived by her daughter Kary Bullock of Aberdeen, and son Kody (Melissa) Bullock of Ashton; brother Larry Frost of Aberdeen; brother Terry Frost of Fancy Gap, Virginia; and first cousin/sister-at-heart Sandy Zoodsma of Redfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Christopher Brian.