Mason Lee Straeter, 12 years old, Rochester

The Celebration of Life services of Mason Lee Straeter will be live-streamed at 10:00 AM EST Thursday, August 7.
Log on to Facebook and search for JD Good to view the services.

Mason Lee Straeter, 12 years old, passed away to his eternal Heavenly home on the evening of July 31, 2025. Mason was doing what he loved the most, motocross at his own track.

Mason Lee Straeter was born on September 19, 2012. He was the treasured son of Matthew and Lindsay Smith Straeter. Growing up, he shared his childhood with an older sister, Ellie Michelle. Mason was proud to be a Zebra and, in a few days, would have begun his 7th-grade year at Rochester Middle School. He was all ready too: school shopping with Grandma—check, supplies and bag all packed—check. That is just how he was, always prepared and well ahead of time. Mason was a member of the Whippoorwill Community Church. He had been involved in DiscipleTown throughout his elementary years, VBS, and Youth Group. He was baptized at Whippoorwill Community Church with his beloved sister, Ellie, on April 16, 2023. He loved God, and he did not just talk about it; he lived it every single day.

An American sportsman with diverse interests, Mason was keenly interested in honing his skills on the pickleball, tennis, and especially basketball courts. He played baseball and enjoyed all summer water sports and activities with his cousins and friends. He was proud to show Turbo in the 4-H obedience competition. Mason was a fleet-footed runner for the RMS Cross-Country and Track team. He loved hitting the hardwoods and playing basketball, having just finished RHS basketball camp last week.

Mason's greatest passion was motocross. Known as rider(Straeter) #502, a number he inherited from his Dad, he had achieved many impressive accomplishments that most would not dream of in a lifetime. He accumulated a vast amount of hardware that he humbly showcased in his bedroom. Mason and his Dad spent many hours practicing on their tracks, refining the course and creating greater challenges. He loved the thrill of achieving "Hangtime" and competing on many tracks around the Midwest, especially Indiana and Michigan. His last race was in Bloomingdale, MI, at Dutch Sport MX, one of his favorites. He not only loved the track and the MI riders that were faster than him so he could learn, but he could talk his parents into going to the MI beach nearby as he loved the sand and water. He was also a member of the American Motorcycle Association.

Mason not only loved sports, racing, but working with his Dad. When the two were together (which was most of the time), you could not separate them. Anything from mowing grass, washing dirt bikes, helping build their custom race trailer, water wagon, etc., he was right there in the middle of it. Even learning how to run his Dad’s aluminum welder was a big deal to him. Learning how to run tractors, operate a track loader to work on their dirtbike tracks at the age of 10 would put a smile on his face every time. Following in his Dad’s footsteps his Dad would often tell him “Mas, you have too much of your Dad in you” except for when he was bundled up in a blanket on the way to get ice-cream with his buddies in the middle of July, he was told “Mas you are just like your Mom”… His favorite place to eat in town was Dick’s Drive In, not only because he loved their taco’s, but he knew his Dad was already thinking it anyway and it was an easy sell.
 
He also owned a very cool shoe collection.  He enjoyed making many great family memories with his cousins at Orlando.  As a role model he always took time to share his knowledge with his younger cousins who greatly admired him. He had even been requested by one cousin to just babysit him by himself so he could have Mason all to himself.
 
Left to cherish Mason's memory are his parents Matt and Lindsay Straeter, and big sister Ellie Michelle Straeter of Rochester; Grandparents: Dave and Melana Smith, Melinda Straeter, Deb West; Great-Grandmother Sharon Cheesman; Great Grandparents Dale and Nancy Smith; Aunts and Uncles: Linnea (Jim) Baney, Luke (Cassie) Smith, Landon (Heather) Smith, Eric Straeter, Jesse (Alycia) Straeter, Michael Straeter, Hillary (Brad) Johnson; Cousins: Elijah, Nora, Elena, Lillian, Evelyn, Kaden, Luke, Cameron, Parker, Asher, Berkley, Lucy, Lydia, Lilliana, Lindy, Crew, Saylor, Ford.  Also treasuring Mason's memory are his classmates, the Rochester Zebra Class of 2031, and his friends and competitors in the world of Motocross.  He will be missed by his canine companion TURBO, the custom blend St. Bernese.
 
Welcoming Mason to Heaven with Jesus are Grandpa Jim Straeter; Great-Grandparents: Millie Smith, Betty and Willard Higgins, James Cheesman; and Uncle Lance David Smith.
 
The Straeter-Smith families will receive friends from 3:30 - 8:00 pm on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the Rochester High School, Zebra Gymnasium. 

A celebration of the life of Mason Lee Straeter will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, August 7, 2025, in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th Street, Rochester.  

There is a visitation on Thursday from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service in the funeral home. Pastor Brian Sewell will officiate.  

Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made in Mason's name to the Whippoorwill Community Church, 4795 N 200 W, Rochester, IN 46975, or make check or money to: Mason Straeter Motocross Promotion – This will be put in an account via Matt and Lindsay Straeter to donate back to our local tracks to help grow the sport he loved so much.  Donations could be used for enhanced lighting, clinics, etc… Mail to Matt and Lindsay Straeter, P.O. Box 453, Rochester, IN 46975.