Funeral services for Margaret "Margie" Veal, age 89, of Meadow, SD, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Indian Creek Lutheran Church near Meadow, SD. Pastor Tera Lowe will officiate with burial to be held privately at a later date.
Margie passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.

Margaret Eloise Veal of Meadow passed away on April 23, 2016, at the West River Regional Medical Center. Her death was the result of complications from a blood clot in her heart. Margaret had been living in her home on the ranch up until her hospitalization.

Margaret leaves behind a daughter, Colleen (Jerry) Bourdon of Chippewa Falls, WI, a son Greg (Janet) Veal of Meadow, SD and a daughter, Kandi (Dan) O'Neil of Saukville, WI. Her children brought into her life seven grandchildren, Brandon Bourdon (Patty Calhoun) of Rosemount, MN, Ryan (Brittany Nelson-Cheeseman) Bourdon of Minneapolis, MN, Aaron (Stephanie) Bourdon, of Chaska, MN, Joshua (Amy) Veal of Prior Lake, MN and Jason (Amy Lukken) Veal of Meadow, SD, Stephen O'Neil of Saukville, WI and Christine O'Neil of St. Paul, MN.

Margaret was blessed with five great-grandchildren, Chance Bourdon of Rosemount, MN, Caitlyn, Mason and Peyton Veal of Prior Lake, MN and Skylar Bourdon of Chaska, MN. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as her special cat "Sassy" who has been her constant companion since her husband Beryl passed away in 2013.

Margie was born on a farm in Perkins County, S.D., the 14th child of Bernhard and Anne Marie (Stigen) Nilsen. She attended primary school in rural Perkins County, secondary school in Lemmon, S.D., and continued her education at The Normal (Northern State University) in Aberdeen, SD the summer of 1945. Margie began teaching at Ada School in Perkins County after completion of college in the Fall of 1945.

On July 24, 1948, Margaret was united in marriage to Beryl Veal. They made their home for 65 years at the VTV Ranch south of Bison, South Dakota. Margaret's mission in life was to help and support her husband in his endeavors to build a successful ranch and farm. She worked side by side with Beryl as they farmed and ranched. From haying, fencing, lambing, calving; their life was a partnership in caring for the land and livestock. She took pride in this achievement and was a savvy business woman making decisions on livestock care and herd growth. When first married, she raised turkeys for extra money because being self-sufficient was a way of life, and she had her own milk cows so she could pasteurize milk and make butter. She kept a large vegetable garden and enjoyed canning and freezing. Pickles and jams were a definite specialty. During the early 1980's Margaret had a huge raspberry patch and there were raspberries galore for making jams, jelly and pies.

Margaret's Norwegian heritage was very important to her. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee or two with a cookie or piece of cake. She taught the art of lefse making to her children and grandchildren. Margie was known for her excellent baking and candy-making.

A source of pride for Margie were the tree lots on the VTV Ranch which was awarded the Perkins County Conservation District Tree Award. She spent many hours planting and caring for the trees. Great joy came from experiencing the many birds, deer, pheasants that made their homes there and the occasional squirrel whose antics Margie and Beryl loved to watch.

She was the oldest active member of Indian Creek Lutheran Church. Margie had served as the superintendent of the church Sunday School, was active with the Ladies Aide and could be called upon to make her famous pies and buns, from "scratch." Margie found joy in making wreaths and decorating the Chance Cemetery gates for the various seasons. She donated paraments to Indian Creek Lutheran church in memory of Beryl and even made one set personally. She enjoyed joining the church ladies at Indian Creek Lutheran Church for quilting days where the quilts were later donated to service projects in the community. She was active in researching and writing the church history with other members of the congregation for the 75th Anniversary. She was also a consultant on the church history for the 100th Anniversary of Indian Creek Lutheran Church.

Not only was church history important, but the history of the Veal family, Nilsen family and community. Margie was interested in world and current events. She was following the current election and each candidate for their attributes and how they would serve the country. In her early years of working outdoors there was not much time to follow the national scene, so this became an interest in her later years as she had more time.

Margie was a gifted seamstress sewing many of the clothes for her children when they were young. One of Margaret's many special talents was her quilting. She was self taught and her eye for putting colors and patterns together won awards at the Perkins County Fair. She continued to sew quilts right up to the time of her death; completing two graduation quilts and a wedding quilt in the last few months.

Margie was never much of a traveler, she preferred to be on the VTV Ranch. But she followed Beryl on many adventures in Europe and all over the United States. The last trip she took was to visit her sister Vi McNew in Greeley, CO with Kandi and Colleen. This was a very special trip because it was her last time with her sister, she took the trip with her girls and stopped at quilt stores all the way there and back.

Margaret was a woman of great faith. She was a faithful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, neighbor and friend.

A memorial has been established.


Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Indian Creek Lutheran Church south of Meadow, SD. A family service will follow the visitation at 7:00 p.m.