Mariagnes Whittemore Caron peacefully passed away on June 21st, 2025 in Bonita Springs, Florida, at the age of 98.

She was born on December 1st, 1926 to Kent L Whittemore and Mildred Jenkins Whittemore and grew up on the family homestead in Buffalo, South Dakota. Her mother passed when she 12 years old and she and her father relocated to Spearfish, South Dakota. Her father Kent later married Mari's loving step-mother Grace Clarkson.

While riding her bicycle to school one day she found herself with a flat tire and as fate would have it she met a young man, Denis M Caron, who happened to fix that flat tire and shortly thereafter became the love of her life with whom she would share her most treasured memories.

During World War II, both Denis and Mari aided in the war efforts. Denis served as a Radioman in the United States Navy and Mari was employed in Washington, D.C. as a typist for the FBI. After the war ended, Denis and Mari were married in Minneapolis, MN on December 18th, 1945. To this union they had two beloved children, Judith Marie Caron and William Denis Caron. Denis and Mari worked alongside each other opening a Coast to Coast Store in Stanley, North Dakota. In 1957, they moved back to South Dakota opening the Coast to Coast Hardware Store at 645 Main Street in Deadwood. Together and with the help of their son Bill they successfully ran this store until 1989 following the advent of gaming. Shortly after retiring, Denis passed away in 1992.

Mari was known by many as a deeply loving compassionate & kind person with a great sense of humor. Mari played the organ at the Deadwood Methodist Church for many years, she was a member of the P.E.O. as well as the Deadwood Bag Ladies, Beta Sigma Phi in Deadwood, and she was the recipient of the Nell Perrigoue Memorial Award for dedicated voluntary service in 1991. She rode side saddle in the Days of '76 Parade, something she was quite fond of after many years of riding her Shetland pony, "Babe" to school when she lived on the ranch in Harding County as a child. Mari was a wonderful host and always had something sweet on her kitchen counter or some homemade dough in the fridge so she could make a quick batch of cookies for her grandkids who would grab her rolling pin and bake alongside her. She loved cross stitching, knitting, and crocheting. She enjoyed visiting Gage's Greenhouse in the summer to purchase peaches and picked chokecherries for the most delicious jams and jellies. She made a delicious homemade applesauce from apples picked at Dot Clarkson's place in Sand Creek. Mari loved her family and friends deeply, especially the special times shared "Out at the Land" and at the annual Clarkson Family Reunion.

Mari will be remembered as the Grandma who was always baking new treats and offering something sweet to those she loved. Her door was always open and all who were in her presence felt her sincere generosity.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Mildred, Kent (Grace) Whittemore; husband Denis Caron; special friend Bill Johnson; brother Archie Whittemore; dear friends including Dorothy Berry, Margaret Sulentic, Maxine Wright, Dorothy Clarkson, Betty Coburn, Lorraine Ondriezek, Yvonne Foreman and Juanita Ordahl; as well as the many other friends in Deadwood and surrounding areas that were near and dear to Mari.

She is survived by her loving family including her daughter, Judie (Tom) LaBau; grandchildren Steve (Heather) LaBau, David (Ashley) LaBau, Michael (Jenn) Labau, great- grandchildren Bridger (Brook) LaBau, Avery LaBau, Mackenzie (Tyler) Hilliard, Braden (Shayna) LaBau and Cecelia LaBau, great-great grandchildren Reese Hilliard & Blake Hilliard; her son, Bill (Patty) Caron; grandchildren Kelly (Kent) Hendricks, Kathleen (Weston) Scott, Tyler (Tara) Caron; great-grandchildren Jonathan (Melody) Hendricks, Jordan (Trent) Houghton, Abigail & Joshua Hendricks, McKaela (Blake) Aghbashian, Melina, Emma & Jackson Scott, and Tessa Caron; great-great grandchildren Chloe Hendricks, Bennett, Isla & Phoebe Houghton, Sawyer & Charlie Aghbashian; her brother Joe Whittemore; sister Linda (Rick) Rothermel and sister-in-law LaNyce Whittemore.

She touched the hearts of many and was very fond of her Whittemore, Jenkins, Clarkson, Caron & Johnson families.

Private Graveside Services are pending at Pine Slope Cemetery, Belle Fourche, SD.

Join us for a Celebration of Life Picnic which will be held at The Gordon Park from 11:00-2:00 PM, July 5th, 2025 located on Sherman Street in Deadwood. Some of Mari's favorite treats and refreshments will be served. All who come are welcome to bring a treat to enjoy as we share our fond memories of Mari.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com