Marie Valentina (Nespor) Spreckels, 91

Marie Valentina (Nespor) Spreckels, 91, a longtime resident of Winner went to be with her heavenly Father on April 26, 2016. At the time of her death she resided at Fountain Springs Healthcare in Rapid City.

Services were held on April 30 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Winner with Rev. Will Harley officiating. There was a reception and lunch at the church following the service.   Private internment will be at the Winner Cemetery at a later date.

Marie was born February 14, 1925, in Hamill, SD to Joe and Agnes (Klima) Nespor. Marie grew up on the family farm east of Hamill. She attended a country grade school through the eighth grade, then attended high school in Winner, graduating in 1943. Marie lived a short time in Omaha, NE working for an insurance company. Thereafter, she met the love of her life, Norman. They were married on December 27, 1945 at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD and shared 57 years of love and blessings. To this union four children were born: Judy, Sondra, Donald and Dona.

Marie was baptized and confirmed on September 16, 1944 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE. She became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Winner, SD in 1946 and was dedicated to her Lord and to her church for her whole life.

Marie was a devoted farm and ranch wife working alongside Norman. During those years she raised chickens, grew large gardens and canned anything she could get her hands on to prepare for the winter months. She was a hostess that always had a coffee pot on and a freezer-full of baked goodies in case company would drop by. In her spare time she would spend time at the sewing machine sewing for herself and her three girls, embroidering tea towels and scarves and also enjoyed making her quilts. Dancing nearly every Saturday night, especially at Carlock, and playing cards were Norman and Marie’s best entertainment, but always up on Sunday morning to attend worship at Trinity Lutheran Church until she became a care-giver for Norman the last eighteen years of his life. Due to declining health, Marie moved into Golden Prairie Manor in Winner in October of 2010; Morningstar Assisted Living in Rapid City in May of 2012; and her final home was at Fountain Springs Healthcare, Rapid City on March 11, 2016. Marie was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed.