Mary graduated from Reedley High School. After graduating, she worked in packing houses until she married Glenn Balentine of Dinuba and then settled in Visalia, CA. Mary would take in ironing to help make ends meet. She remained a homemaker her entire life. Her love of children enabled her to be a babysitter from home to help 10 - 12 small children at a time and did this for many years. After that, she attended Lyles Beauty College and enjoyed being a hairdresser for 10 years.
Mary loved camping with her family, and they would often vacation by taking road trips. She followed her husband on team road trips as he played fast pitch softball for over 20 years.
Mary will always be remembered as kind, soft spoken, unselfish and loving. One would never hear her talking down on anyone, as one of her favorite sayings was, "If you don't have anything nice to say, maybe you shouldn't say anything at all." She will be missed forever.
Mary is preceded in death by Glenn Balentine, her beloved husband of 60 years.
Mary is survived by her son Stephen Balentine (Theresa) of Fresno, CA; her daughters Cheryl Ens of Clovis, CA; DeeAnna Montag (Raymond) of Clovis, CA; and Kristi Brenbrook (Jan) of Fresno, CA; her brother Vernon Solbach of Walla Walla, WA; her sister Carolyn Cote of Stockton, CA and her brother Mark Solbach (Susan) of Holt, MO. She is also survived by 17 Grandchildren and 28 Great Grandchildren.
A visitation will be on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 5:00 pm followed by a rosary service at 6:00 pm, at Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Ave, Clovis, CA 93612.
A mass of Christian burial will be on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 929 Harvard Ave, Clovis, CA 93612.
A committal service will be on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Clovis Cemetery, 305 N Villa Ave, Clovis, CA 93612.
Serving as pallbearers are Chad Montag, Danny Montag, Matthew Ens, Brandon Cates, Kyle Papillion, Morgan Madruga.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the Balentine family.
