Margie Pellersels-Beaver, age 97 of Sac City, IA, passed away on June 27, 2020, at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City.
Margie Ione Bentley was born on June 10, 1923, to parents David and Emily (Uren) Bentley at home on a farm near Nemaha, IA. She was baptized and later confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Nemaha.
Margie lived in the Nemaha area throughout her childhood. She graduated from High School in Nemaha. She attended the University of Northern Iowa and Buena Vista College, desiring to be a teacher. Margie was meant to be a teacher.
On April 1, 1944, Margie married the love of her life, Keith Pellersels in Nemaha at the United Methodist Church. This union was blessed with two sons, David and John (J.D.). They later became members of the First Presbyterian Church in Sac City. Together, Margie and Keith raised their family in Sac City.
Following WWII, Margie and Keith owned and operated Pellersels Motor Company for 18 years. Margie also taught in Lytton, Iowa, operated an in-home nursery/preschool, and taught 4th grade in the Sac Community School District for 30 years. Margie had an impact on her students, often referred to as “my kids”. Her students numbered more than 1000 during her time spent in the classroom. She was honored to have been elected president of the Iowa Reading Association in 1982-83, and she received a further honor when named Reading Teacher of Iowa in 1986. Margie and Keith also owned and operated the Country Kitchen Drive In . Margie would wake very early in the morning and make homemade pies for the Drive In before going to work at the school. They also owned and operated Pellersels Tree Farm just north of Sac City.
Margie was involved in many personal and family activities. Some included: cribbage and card clubs, a real love to golf, Red Hat Society, Eastern Star, and Women’s League. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed making delicious desserts for her bridge club ladies. Margie was passionate about serving at church. She served as a Deacon, an Elder, a Trustee, was the Youth Choir Director, and was the church Organist for almost 30 years. She and Keith were instrumental in the fundraising and building plans for the First Presbyterian Church in the early 60’s. It took a lot to slow her down. She was also a very well-kept lady and seeing her out and about was always a joy.
Margie was a very active lady within her community and anyone that has lived or still lives in Sac City could and would attest to that. Her roots date back to 1877 when her grandfather, William A. Uren and his wife Eliza, homesteaded a farm NW of Sac City in Delaware Township in Sac County. She loved and took pride in her history as well as the area’s history.
In 2002, Keith passed away at their winter home is Texas. This left a huge void in Margie’s heart. She did find love again and on January 21, 2006, she married Earl Jay Beaver at the First Presbyterian Church in Sac City. Through this union, Margie added a son Fred Beaver and daughter Mary Lou Wittrock and their families to her expanded family. Margie’s love for family ran very deep. Her greatest joy was spending time with family, especially her grandkids and great grandkids. She was proud of every one of them.
The few words written on this page don’t come close to covering all of Margie’s life, but the impact she made, the love she gave, and the legacy she leaves behind speaks for it all. She will truly be missed by all who new and loved her.
Margie is survived by her two sons, David (Janice) Pellersels of Atchison, KS, and JD Pellersels of Sioux City, IA; grandchildren Sean (Lisa) Pellersels of Billings, MT, Ryan (Jennifer) Pellersels of Easton, MO, and Mindy (Wesley) Dickinson of Bellevue, NE; great-grandchildren: Austin, Chase, Dagney, and Gloria, daughter-in-law Shirley Beaver and family, son-in-law Fred Wittrock and family, a very special and dedicated friend, Carol DeLoach of Sac City, IA; many extended family members and friends. Margie is also survived by and was blessed with a “Special Family”, Ted and Alice Zimmerman and their children who were there for her and who did many things for Margie throughout her life.
Margie was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Keith Pellersels, second husband Earl “Jay” Beaver, sister Ilene Bodholdt-Olson, uncle, John Bentley, Niece Jane Bodholdt, step-son Fred Beaver, step-daughter Mary Lou Wittrock, and many other extended family members.
