Margaret F. Gjerde

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO A FAMILY ALLERGY NO LIVE FLOWERS!

Margaret F. Gjerde, age 96, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Edgewood Senior Living.  Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Pastor’s Dell Sanderson and Carlene Rhody will officiate.  Music will be provided by Dorothy Fuller as pianist with Pam Rorvik-Albers and Jerry Stolp as vocalists.  The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.  The funeral service will be live streamed via our website.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Burial will be at Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery in rural Henry, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Margaret’s great-grandchildren.  Active pallbearers will be Crystal Thue, Jasmine DeSmet, Aaron Singrey, Joel Singrey, Stuart Lewno, Tiffany Stormo, Eric Gjerde, Katie Goodall, Angela Fleming.

Margaret Fae Robish was born April 3, 1928, in rural Hazel, SD, to Edwin and Cletus (Schaefer) Robish. At the young age of 7 Margaret’s mother passed away after their family contracted diphtheria. As a result of exposure to the disease Cletus passed away 2 weeks after giving birth to Margaret’s youngest brother, Maynard.  Edwin raised his family alone with the help of his mother, who lived with them until all the children graduated from High School. At 16 Margaret was hired by Bertha Gjerde to be her “chore girl”.  Bertha made the statement to Maurice, “Don’t let her get away!” in 1948 they were married.

Margaret was baptized at Kellerton E. U. B. Church, rural Hazel. She attended country schools Brantford #2 for grades one through seven and eighth grade at Opdahl #2. She was a 1946 graduate of Hazel High School.  Margaret was proud to have been a Mustang cheerleader for 4 years and a catcher for the Hazel Fast pitch Softball Team. She worked for George and Verna Redlinger, The Gjerde Farm, and JC Penney.

Margaret married Maurice Gjerde on September 12, 1948, at Kellerton Church. To this 58 year union, they raised three children; Bryce, Renae, and Cleo. They made a living on a farm near Vienna, SD before moving to Watertown, SD in the fall of 2003. Maurice and Margaret created M & M Bus Travel Service they adventured to the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, ND and the Tulip Festival in Orange City, IA.  Maurice passed away in 2006, however, Margaret continued the bus trips for a total of 33 years. She took 26 buses to Daniel O’Donnell concerts. She was recognized by him at several concerts and had the privilege of personally meeting him.

Margaret participated in the Happy Homemakers Extension Club, Circle and Ladies Aid at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, rural Henry, and Sons of Norway. Even though she was of a German descent, Margaret acquired Norwegian traditions, such as making lefse by the hundreds. She was noted for her delicious potato salad, date cake, and making people smile portraying Bubbles the Clown.  If she knew your birthday or anniversary, she most likely reported it to the radio station or sent a greeting card with a corresponding holiday stamp.  At monthly family birthday gatherings, Margaret decorated a cake with some interest of each birthday member. She “earned” her bleacher butt attending grandkids church functions, music concerts, sporting events, and 4-H shows. No matter the event, she “developed” her hobby of taking pictures of anything and everything, even the TV screen of her favorite Twins baseball player. Her sincere love of family was captured in every one of her snapshots. Margaret was an avid Minnesota Twins, Vikings, and Timberwolves fan.  Although she loved talking on the phone, if you called her during a Twins game, she may have cut the conversation short so she could focus on the game. Margaret stated, “what a day!” to prove her appreciation for each day, as she viewed every day as something special. Often saying “I am never bored; I don’t even know what boring means”.

Grateful for her advice on life are her children; Bryce (Kay) Gjerde, Renae (Harold) Singrey, and Cleo (Ralph) Fulton; grandchildren; Crystal (Dale) Thue, Jasmine (Richard) DeSmet, Aaron (Amy) Singrey, Joel (Pam) Singrey, Stuart (Laura) Lewno, Tiffany (Ryan) Stormo, Katie (Brady) Goodall, Eric (Nadine) Gjerde, Angela (Austin) Fleming; 25 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Estelle Robish; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Maurice; parents, Edwin and Cletus Robish; stepmother, Johanna Robish; parents in law, Gunvold and Bertha Gjerde; granddaughter, Nicole Gjerde; sisters, Ila Mae (Walter) Luken, Ramona (Kenneth) Asher, Phyllis (Arthur) Bochek; brothers, Wesley (Lenora) Robish, Maynard Robish; sisters in law, Gertie (Alfred) Bjorkman, Alice (Robert) McCutchen; brothers in law, Selmer (Mildred) Gjerde, Joseph Gjerde, Lloyd Gjerde, George (Twyla) Gjerde, and Reuben (Marvel) Gjerde.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant.

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