On June 6, 2020 Margaret Monteith took her final breath on earth and her first breath in heaven. She was 93.
Private memorial services will be on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Private family interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Margaret was born August 10, 1926 in Watertown, South Dakota. Her parents, Winfield and Effie (Eddy) Whitmore, lived on a farm in the Henry, SD area where she grew up. She graduated from Henry High School and went on to work for Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator. On June 3, 1945 Margaret married her high school sweetheart, Dwight Monteith. They lived in Fall River, Massachusetts until Dwight was discharged from the Navy. The couple returned home to South Dakota where they set up residence in Watertown. Margaret worked at the Gift House Stamp Redemption Center from 1959 to 1969 and then began 20 years of service at Western Area Power Administration.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Henryette’s Club and enjoyed sewing, camping, and crossword puzzles. During their golden years, Margaret and Dwight enjoyed winters in Texas until, after 55 years of marriage, Dwight passed away on September 3, 2000. At that time she moved into Benet Place in Watertown. While there she was asked about lessons she’d learned throughout her life and any advice she’d have for younger generations. She replied that being patient, forgiving and loving are the greatest lessons she’d learned in life. Her advice was to talk with someone when you have a problem and try to make wise decisions.
There was nothing more important to Margaret than family. Any family members traveling to Watertown would be warmly welcomed with a delicious home cooked meal, oftentimes followed by one of her fabulous pies. Her nightshade pie became a family favorite and will always be a fond reminder of treasured days with Margaret and Dwight in South Dakota. Margaret was fiercely proud of her children and their many accomplishments. She adored her two grandsons. The boys will always remember spending summer and winter breaks in South Dakota with Grandma and Grandpa walleye fishing, sledding, playing games, etc. In later years Margaret’s four great grandchildren became a source of great joy as well.
In 2009 she moved to Colorado to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She was introduced to the ipad in her 80’s and became quite proficient! She loved collecting photos from family members (and she proudly shared them with anyone who visited), emailing, texting, and playing games.
Margaret is survived by her children, Bryan Monteith (Peggy) of Cody, WY and Sharon Hill-Hunsicker (Robert) of Arvada, CO; two grandchildren, Bryan Hill (Keek) and Monty Hill; and four great grandchildren, Mekenzey, Jaden, Malachi, and Lucy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dwight; her sister, Dorothy Brown (Sam) and her brother, Eddy Whitmore (Amelia).
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Thessalonians 4:16-17