Margaret Wengert, 92 of Spearfish, passed away at her home on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

Margaret Ruth was born on March 26, 1919 in Milbank, SD to Samuel and Esther (Buri) Van Voorhis. She spent her early years in Britton, Redfield, and Huron, SD. She was an honor graduate of Huron High School (1937) and Huron College (1941). She was a Huron College Huronian, a member of Phi Gamma Nu, Pi Lambda Theta, and is listed in Who's Who Among Graduates of American Colleges and Universities.

Margaret taught school several Years in SD until she accepted a position as a vocal music teacher in the Ketchikan Public Schools in Ketchikan, AK in 1947.
She met her husband Irven Wengert who was also a teacher in the high school at Ketchikan. They were married in 1948 and continued to teach in the Ketchikan until their retirement, Mr. Wengert in 1971 and Margaret in 1974. The couple moved to Watertown, SD to care for Margaret's newly-widowed mother. After her death in 1979, they moved to Spearfish. They spent their winters in Tucson, AZ and summers in Spearfish. Mr. Wengert died in 2001.

While living in Ketchikan both were active in community affairs. Margaret was a member of AEA, NEA, the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Business and Professional Women, the Young Homemaker's Club, OES, EGA and PEO. She was a Communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church, helping other churches in need of a temporary organist, soloist or choir director. When the Pacific and Orient Steamship Company started its cruise line to Southeast Alaska in the late 1960's, Margaret was one of four Alaskan Women selected by the company to be Port Lecturers, telling the passengers about America's "Lost Frontier".

Margaret attended the graduate schools of the Universities of Alaska, Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming to augment her teaching skills. In 1967, she was the Alaska Teacher of the Year, and in 1969 was selected as an outstanding young civic leader in the United States. Mrs. Wengert was a Master Teacher.

The Wengerts traveled extensively and Margaret continued to do so after Mr. Wengert's death.

In addition to her love of teaching, Margaret was an accomplished seamstress, a skilled embroiderer, an avid reader, and a talented musician and artist. She was also a swimmer, a golfer and a bridge player.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her fiancé, who was a fallen soldier of WWII in 1944. She is survived by her brother Alan (Georgia) Van Voorhis, two nephews, David (Julie) and Stephen (Sandie) Van Voorhis and their families all of Bismarck, ND, and several cousins.

Memorial Services are pending.