On May 1st, 2011 Margaret A. West began her ultimate journey.


Margaret grew up in rural southern Iowa, enjoying the privileges of attending a one-room country school through the 8th grade. She graduated from high school in Lineville, Iowa. Margaret lived in Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota during her life.


Margaret was active with her sons and daughter in their scouting activities as they grew up, being a den mother and volunteering for various projects and campouts. She also took her kids with her to the many art shows she went to during this time, where she drew portraits and sold prints of her artwork.


She was confirmed in the First Lutheran Church in Fairfield, Iowa in 1969 and attended other local Lutheran churches wherever she lived.


Margaret enjoyed outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, skiing, and gardening. She was a talented artist who worked in many mediums such as paintings, portraits, silk screening, drawings, knitting and quilting. Margaret also was a talented musician who played the piano, tuba, accordion, cymbals, and sousaphone.


She became involved in emergency medicine in the early 1970s, first as an EMT then later as a paramedic, working for ambulance services in Iowa and Missouri. In 1986 she completed the Physician's Assistant program, earning a Bachelor of Science degree, at the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA. From there she went to Belcourt, ND to work in the Indian Health Service. She returned to her alma mater to serve as a recruiter and instructor in the PA program. She later worked in Lemmon, SD and Wayne County, IA, all considered low manpower health areas, as a PA in the hospitals and clinics in those areas until her retirement.


Strong family ties were a source of strength and comfort throughout her life. The love and feeling of closeness with family and friends was always present, even though they might be separated by miles.


She was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Fred Souder, her brother, Donald Souder and her son, Timothy West.


She is survived by her two sons, Stanley West, Lemmon, SD, Scott West, Waterloo, IA; her daughter, Kathleen Hollingshead and her husband John and their son Connor, Wyoming, IA; her sister Marta Day, Lineville, IA; her niece Shirley Phinney and her husband Craig, Ankeny, IA; her nephew Jerry Day and his wife Kim, Highland, CA; and her sister-in-law Patricia Souder, Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH.


Margaret A. West, age 72 of Lemmon, passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger.


The Graveside Service for Margaret, who was a Physician's Assistant, will be held at 11:00am Friday, May 6, 2011 at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon with Pastor Charlotte Kvale, officiating.