Margaret Palmer

Margaret Palmer, 92, formerly of Orient, SD passed away May 27, 2012 in Littleton, Colorado after battling cancer for several years. 

A memorial services were held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Bill Hoffman officiating. A brief graveside service followed at Prairie View Cemetery, Orient followed by a reception at the Orient Bar and Grill.

Margaret Lee Olson was born November 24, 1919 in Vega, Brule County, South Dakota.  She was the oldest child of Melvin Olson and Jennie (Densford) Olson.  She attended high school in Miller and college at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota.  She married Marion Palmer of Orient, South Dakota in 1940.  After ranching west of Orient for about one year, they moved to California where Marion was employed by Consolidated Aircraft Co. during the war.  Daughter Rosalee was born there on March 23, 1942 in San Diego, CA.  In the spring of 1943, they returned to the Ranch, 5 miles west and 3 miles south of Orient, South Dakota.  Rodney was born on June 22, 1945 at Miller, South Dakota.  Jerry was born on November 5, 1951 and Rebecca (Becky) was born on April 23, 1954.

Margaret was active in the Jolly Wrens Extension Club for many years.  She was also active in the Orient Methodist Church, seeing that all her children attended Sunday School and all church plays and choir.  She especially enjoyed the Eastern Star and was Worthy Matron at Faulkton.

Margaret was an avid gardener and if you visited when she had garden produce, you probably went home with something from the garden.  She was always busy putting up plum and chokecherry jelly, canning or freezing corn, peas, beans, beets and everything else.  Her rhubarb and blueberry pie and peach upside down cake were special.  For many years she canned beef and chicken.  Home-raised frying chickens were prized by all the family.

Her help and assistance did not end in the house or garden.  She was a willing extra hand to help feed the cows and chickens.  When necessary, she milked the 3 or 4 milk cows that were always around for fresh milk and cream.  She also worked at the Faulkton County Hospital, cooking and preparing meals.

She handled feeding the threshing and branding crews with ease.  In addition to caring for her mother, who had a stroke in her early years, she and Marion took in her younger sister Janize.  There was always an extra hired hand or two to feed as well as Marion’s bachelor brother, Ellsworth (Pat) Palmer.

In her later years, she traveled and lived between Littleton, CO at Becky’s home and the ranch house at Orient.  She liked to keep up with family and was always wondering how the grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren were.  She thoroughly enjoyed them all.  One of her favorite sayings was “Moderation in all things.”

She is preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Jennie Olson, husband Marion, daughter Rosalee Robertson, and granddaughter Stacy Palmer. 

She leaves behind her children: Rodney and special friend Diette at Ainsworth, NE; Jerry at Littleton, CO; and Rebecca and husband Jay Elliot at Oak Creek, CO. Grandchildren include Andrea Collins and husband Adrian in Colorado Springs, CO; Cameron Palmer and wife Danielle in Ainsworth, NE; Nathan Krum in Denver, CO; and Heidi Robertson, Deborah Robertson and husband Jesse all from Denver, CO; eight great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; and one sister: Janize Nissen of Rapid City, SD.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Margaret’s arrangements.