Margaret Pierson

Dates

Obituary

Margaret Pierson, 88, of Mitchell, SD, died Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Edgewood Assisted Living under hospice care in Mitchell. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM Saturday, February 25, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Ethan. Visitation will be Friday from 4-6:00 PM at Holy Family with a 5:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

A live stream of the funeral service can be viewed at: https://www.holyfamilymitchell.com/live-stream-mass

Margaret Johanna (Sibson) Pierson was born Nov. 7, 1934, to Limbert and Johanna (Rankin) Sibson, on the family farm near Artesian. Margaret attended grade school in Artesian and graduated from Notre Dame High School, Mitchell, in 1952 before attending Nettleton Business School in Sioux Falls.

On Nov. 24, 1952, she married William “Bill” Pierson at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Margaret worked as a secretary for an architect until March 1953, when she and Bill committed their lives to their crops, cattle, and children on his family farm east of Ethan. While Bill tended the farm, Margaret kept the home in order, and even in her final hours of hospice care, she instructed her children to “get things tidied up so we can go.” The Pierson home, whether that be in Ethan, Mitchell, Arizona, or the camper, was always open and ready for company, and she always had time for a couple of hands of Pinochle. Since 2012, Margaret has missed her lifetime dance partner, who loved to take her out for a night of square or ballroom dancing.

Margaret’s faith and family were her greatest treasures. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and its Altar Society in Ethan. She sang in the church choir and taught CCD. Margaret was delighted that all seven of her children continue to be active in their Catholic parishes. In recent years, as her family grew larger and more widespread, Margaret embraced Facebook and often said their adventures were “good to see.”

She enjoyed traveling – especially when those travels led her to a new church or to see family. Together, Bill and Margaret enjoyed nearly 30 winters in Arizona and traveled much of the year, exploring places such as France, Germany, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. Margaret continued to winter in Arizona and travel following Bill’s death, and in 2014, she attended Pope Francis’s first Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome with Rich and Kris, their son, Michael, and his family.

Margaret was blessed with good health until 2021, when she was diagnosed with leukemia. That summer, she called her family together for a weekend enjoying what she and Bill had loved most – camping, card games and time outdoors – by the river in Chamberlain. Although the effects of chemotherapy were strong, she was able to enjoy time with nearly all of her descendants during the reunion before returning to Arizona for one last warm winter. In late 2022, Margaret asked to move to Edgewood Assisted Living in Mitchell. In her final six months, she enjoyed a flurry of activities, companionship and assistance. As a member of both a card club and a hobby club, Margaret loved to play host to family and friends new or old, and she was known in Arizona and in Mitchell to be the “activities director,” keeping friends, neighbors and anyone who stopped by entertained with games.

Margaret died Sun., Feb. 19, 2023 at Edgewood Assisted Living, under hospice care. She is survived by seven children: Rich Pierson of Washington, Iowa; Deb Jennings of Lead; Dan (Mary) Pierson of Merrill, Iowa; Dean (Nancy) Pierson of Brandon; Denise (Mike) Royston of Mitchell; Rod (Lisa) Pierson of Madison; and Ray (Ann) Pierson of Sioux Falls; 23 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; brother, David (Joyce) Sibson of Mitchell; and sister-in-law, Delores Sibson of Mitchell.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Bill, in 2012; her parents; son-in-law, Al Jennings; daughter-in-law, Kris Pierson; brothers, Leo Sibson and Herb Sibson; sisters, Elsie Hemmer and Jean Danielson; and several in-laws.

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