Margie Joan (Pearsall) Bechtold, 86 of Vermillion, SD passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Vermillion Sanford Care Center. She joined the love of her life, Buzzy and they will be golfing and dancing together thru eternity.
Margie was born on Aug. 16, 1933 to Archie and Marjorie (Carter) Pearsall in Lynch, NE. She joined three brothers and one sister while growing up on a farm near Mosher, SD. She attended Burns grade school in Mosher, 3 years of high school at Wood and graduated from White River in 1951. After attending college at Spearfish she worked as a legal secretary in White River.
On Feb. 14, 1953 Margie married Clellan (Buzz) Bechtold at her parent’s home in Mosher. They were together for 65 years until Buzz’s passing on Oct. 30, 2018. Together they raised three children: Crystal McGuire (Vermillion), Monty Bechtold (Pierre) & Cindy Burton (Tulsa, OK).
In 1960 Buzz and Margie built and managed the Maverick Motel in Mission, SD until 1975.
Margie kept very busy with managing the motel including cleaning rooms, daily laundry, and bookkeeping while also taking care of family responsibilities.
Buzz and Margie later moved to Winner and then to Hartford where they built homes and townhomes. They retired in Sioux Falls and wintered part-time in Sun City, AZ for 15 years and returning to SD year-round in 2014 because of health reasons and to be nearer to their children.
Margie was very involved in the lives of her three children attending many events and activities including music concerts, plays, sports and church.
She was a volunteer leader and coordinator for Job’s Daughters and a member of the Eastern Star and Daughters of American Revolution (DAR). She also enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and dancing. Margie started golfing in her 30’s and had great success in winning many trophies and tournaments throughout South Dakota.
She was a marvelous cook and baker, very gifted as she sewed clothing, knitted and crocheted many items for family and others, and made holiday crafts for children and grandchildren. She loved to entertain and was always well-dressed as her past-time later in life was shopping for clothing and shoes.
Margie enjoyed having the family meet for holidays’ at their home and enjoyed spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Grateful for having shared in Margie’s life: her three children: Crystal (Jim) McGuire of Vermillion, SD, Monty (Peggy) Bechtold of Pierre, SD and Cindy Burton of Tulsa, OK; 8 grandchildren, Jennifer (Terry) Hrdlicka, Kevin (Janice) McGuire, Brian (Tina) McGuire, Pamela (Dave) Moening, Kelley (Stu) Larson, Cori (Brandon) Haag, Bailey (Mic) Johnson, Jessica (Ben) Cuddy; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, and close friends.
Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Clellan (Buzz) Lloyd Bechtold; a granddaughter, Brianne Lea Bechtold; her parents, Archie and Margorie Pearsall, three brothers: Russell, Robert and Jay Pearsall; and one sister, Lillian Pearsall.
A private family celebration of life and burial of ashes will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be distributed to Margie’s favorite charities and may be sent to the Bechtold Family at 501 Sharpe Drive, Vermillion, SD 57069.
Margie celebrated her 85th birthday in Vermillion last August (2018) with her entire family including her husband (Buzz), 3 children, 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, spouses, other relatives and friends and 1 granddaughter in memory.
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