Margaret Regina Hoffman was born June 20, 1915 in Roswell, South Dakota, the daughter of John P. and Philamena (Lahner) Hoffman.

At the age of eight, the family moved to a farm in Stanley County, ten miles south of Ft. Pierre. She attended Consolidated Rural School where she graduated from 8th grade. She then attended Ft. Pierre High School. As a young girl she worked for WPA as a quilt maker. She also did domestic work for legislators in Pierre.

Margaret was united in marriage to John Leo Herber on June 26, 1935 at Ft. Pierre. They made their home on John’s parent’s ranch south of Kadoka. Later they moved to Ft. Pierre, then to a farm near Moscow, Idaho, where they resided until moving back to the Hoffman farm south of Ft. Pierre. In the late 1930’s they moved to the Herber ranch south of Kadoka. On March 1, 1941, they purchased the Frank Uhlir ranch which they continued to operate.

Her husband John Herber preceded her in death on March 29, 1947.

On June 2, 1948, Margaret was united in marriage to John H. Harty in Kadoka, South Dakota. They made their home on Margaret’s ranch until 1960 when they moved to the Harty farm east of Milesville where they built and established their present home.

Her husband John Harty preceded her in death on September 10, 1977 and Margaret and their son Anthony have continued to reside on the farm.

Margaret was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milesville and church Altar Society, and was a charter member of the Bad River Senior Citizens. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing sports.

Grateful for having shared her life include two sons, Bernard Herber and his wife Barbara of Kadoka, and Anthony Harty of Milesville; three daughters Monica Weaver and her husband Pat of Wanblee, South Dakota; Theresa Hockenbary and her husband Rodney of Valentine, Nebraska, and Phylliss Grubl and her husband Robert of Sturgis; twenty-seven grandchildren; seventy-five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters Evelyn Falzone of Philip and Rita Noonan of Burbank, California; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her first and second husbands, Margaret was preceded in death by a daughter Joanne Merkle; three grandchildren; her parents; four brothers Lawrence, Joseph, Martin and Paul; and two sisters Frances Keeley and Marie Hoffman in infancy.

Visitation was held 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2004 with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. all at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

Mass of Christian Burial was held 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 2, at the church, with Father Ron Garry as celebrant.

Interment was 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Kadoka Cemetery.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
10:00 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2004
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Ron Garry

MUSIC
Jo Anne Stilwell – Organist
Theresa Hockenbary & Phylliss Grubl – Vocalist

LECTOR
Robert Grubl

ALTAR SERVERS
Michael Herber – Maria Herber

USHERS
Kelly Blair – Don Weller
Ron Millage – Colt Fitzgerald

PALLBEARERS
Margaret’s Twenty-Seven Grandchildren

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Friday, January 2, 2004 1:30 p.m.
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota