Margaret Hempel

Margaret M. Hempel, 85, died Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at the Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD. Margaret Marie Roth was born on August 19, 1933, in Moody County, SD, the daughter of Frank and Esther (Johnson) Roth. She attended Darling Rural School #7 and then graduated from Egan High School in 1951. She went on to graduate from South Dakota State University majoring in home economics, clothing and clothing textiles. Margaret taught high school in Webster, SD, for three years. On June 8, 1958 she was united in marriage to Richard Hempel in Brookings, SD. The couple made their home in Lennox, SD. Margaret began a 35 year teaching career in Lennox, where she was recognized as an outstanding home economics teacher and FHA Advisor. She also supervised 42 student teachers. Margaret retired from teaching in 1993. Husband Richard died just over one month ago, on June 21, 2019. Margaret was a long time faithful member of First English Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Lennox Senior Citizens and had volunteered for the American Cancer Society. She enjoyed counted cross stitch, sewing and crafts. She collected snow babies and porcelain dolls. Margaret was a devoted wife and mother. Most of all she loved her family and cherished the relationships and time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Besides her parents and husband, Margaret was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Roth and a sister, Dorothy Bauder. Grateful for having shared her life are two daughters: Tamara (Terry) Haan, Billings, MT and Gayle (Roger) Hanisch, Lennox; seven grandchildren: Jennifer (Stephen) Paterson, Billings, MT, Jessica (Scott) Felchle, Laurel, MT, Andrew (Tara) Hanisch, Lennox, Jacqueline (Colin) Gerstner, Billings, MT, Jacob (Bethany) Haan, Laurel, MT, Alexander Hanisch, Clark, SD and Blake Campos, Billings, MT; 13 great-grandchildren: Elijah Gerstner, Joslynn Hanisch, Nathan Paterson, Luke Gerstner, Noah Felchle, Isaac Gerstner, Hayes Hanisch, Hope Gerstner, Henry Haan, Gabriel Felchle, Allie Paterson, Liam Haan and Benjamin Felchle; sister, Lorraine (John) Trei, Rockford, IL; brothers-in-law, Darrell Bauder, Frazee, MN, Robert Hempel, Crooks, SD and David (Mary) Hempel, Webster, SD, as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends. Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 9, 2019 at First English Lutheran Church, Lennox, SD. Visitation, also at First English, with the family present will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 8.

Margaret Hempel

August 17, 1933 - July 30, 2019

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