Marguerite Edna Thompson Tysdal, 96, of Spearfish, SD died December 14, 2009, at the Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish.

Visitation will be on Friday, December 18, 2009 from 2-6 P.M. with the family present from 6-7 P.M. at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. at the United Church of Christ in Spearfish with Pastor Peg Grzelkowski officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to benefit the Spearfish All School Reunion, condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 310, Spearfish, SD 57783.

Marguerite was born on August 11, 1913 to Martin and Edna Goulette Thompson in a small white house on Meier Avenue just south of Jackson Boulevard in Spearfish, SD. Nicknamed "Tommy" to all that knew her. Marguerites' mother passed away from complications of pneumonia in November of 1918, so Grandmother Thompson took care of Martin, her brother Bill and Marguerite until 1922 when Martin married Marie Curran White. Marguerite attended grade and high school in Spearfish and received a two year teaching certificate from B.H.T.C. She was a member of Alpha Pi and Pi Kappa Sigma sororities in college. She was a very active and enjoyed sports and dancing (tap). She taught grade school in Vale S.D. from 1934 to 1936 and then taught high school in 1942 and 1943. Marguerite married Ralph C. Tysdal August 15, 1936 in Spearfish at All Angels Episcopal Church.

Marguerite and Ralph lived on the "Ranch" west of Vale until January 1958. They also owned and managed the General Merchandise Store in Vale from January 1953 until September of 1957. The family lived in Sturgis from January 1958 until July 1958 at which time she returned to her beloved Spearfish.

Marguerite and Ralph had the State Farm Insurance Agency in Spearfish along with building and owning Tom-Ral Apartments and developing Tom-Ral Drive off of Evans Lane.

Marguerite was a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Vale, a member of the Aladdin Social Club and a member of Riverside Extension Club. She served on Election Boards for many years in both Vale and Spearfish. She was a member of Upper Valley Extension Club in Spearfish, Spearfish Country Club, a member of all chapters of Beta Sigma Phi in Spearfish and Chapter "N" P.E.O. She served on the Alumni Board of Directors at B.H.S.C. for 12 years. She was also active in church and church boards including Women's Fellowship-United Church of Christ, a member of Spearfish Senior Center and R.S.V.P. program which included volunteering at Lookout Memorial Hospital, a charter member of Spearfish Republican Women organization. She organized and was chairperson for the 1976 and 1981 "All School Reunion" Spearfish High School and continued as a member and a member of "Lawrence County Historical Society" and "Society of Black Hills Pioneers"

Survivors include four sons; Ralph "Butch" (Margie Gaye) Tysdal, Bill (Patricia) Tysdal, Mike (Darleen) Tysdal and Rick (Gail) Tysdal, ten grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, her sister, Rose Marie Julien, Billings Montana and sister-in-law Martha Tysdal, Provo Utah.

She was preceded in death by Ralph in 1983 her parents Martin 1978, Mother Edna 1918, Step-Mother Marie Curran Thompson 1962 and two brothers Bill and Canice.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com