Margaret Blader

A Celebration of life for Margaret E. Blader, 95, of Groton will be10:00am, Saturday, January 12th at the United Methodist Church, Groton. Pastor Jan Price will officiate. Burial will follow in Groton Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. www.paetznick-garness.com

Visitation will be held at the chapel from 4-8pm on Friday and will continue prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Margaret passed away January 6, 2008 at Golden Living Center in Groton.

Margaret Eleanor Blader was born on January 15, 1912 to Frederick Lewis and Amelia (Rugotzka) Blader in Groton, SD. She attended school in Groton, graduating in 1929. At the 125th Celebration Parade held in 2007, Margaret was the oldest graduate of Groton High School able to participate in the parade. Margaret began working as a bookkeeper at Groton Auto & Tractor, later known as Trail Chevrolet & Olds, in 1935 and retired fifty years later. During these years, Margaret and her sister, Myrtle also helped to run the Groton Theatre.

Margaret was a member of the United Methodist Church in Groton. For many years, she held the treasurer's position and taught Sunday school. She was also active in the choir and sang for many funerals. She and her sister, Myrtle enjoyed watching sports and had attended many basketball and baseball games. Margaret also liked to golf and was one of the first women members at the Golf Course in Groton during the 1940s. Margaret belonged to the Thursday Bridge Club, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Aberdeen Civic Music Association. She enjoyed the arts and took in many plays in Aberdeen. Margaret was also a supporter of the Granary Rural Cultural Center.

Grateful for having shared in her life is her sister; Jeanette Blader Reid of Mt. Vernon, New York, her niece, Joan (Howard) Engquist of Fairmont, Minnesota, a neiece-in-law, Mary Blader of Bloomington, Minnesota, her nephews, Robert (Jo) Rod of Ames, Iowa, Robert (Bernadine) Blader of Wetonka, Minnesota, eighteen grandnieces and nephews and several great-grandnieces and nephews..

Preceding her in death were her parents, her sisters; Mabel Roy, Myrtle Blader, Adeline Rod, her brother, Milton Blader, and two nephews, George (Helen) Blader and Ralph Blader.

Honorary Casketbeares will be Past Employees of Trail Chrevrolet & Olds and the Staff at Golden Living Center.

Casketbearers will be Darrel Sombke, Wally Fischer, Orville Schaller, Chuck Raap, Clinton Hanson and Tony Goldade.