Margaret (Froning) Gerdes, age 90, passed away January 1, 2014 in Brookings. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at St. Thomas More Parish in Brookings, SD. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery in Faulkton, SD. Visitations will begin at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday at the church. Eidsness Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Margaret, the daughter of Charles and Anna Froning, was born on October 6, 1923 on the family farm near Polo, South Dakota. Margaret had five brothers, Clarence, Alphonse, Emil, Leo, and Richard and one older sister, Matilda (Haigh). She received her education at the Polo elementary and high school, graduating in 1941. She received the first scholarship offered by the Benedictine Sister to Polo students, thus she attended Mt. Marty College in Yankton where she received an elementary teacher's certificate. She then taught at various country schools in Hand County which included Campbell, Park, and Burdette schools and then taught one year in the Miller Public Schools. On February 22, 1949, Margaret married Don Gerdes of Cresbard in the St. Liborius Church of Polo. They lived on the family farm west of Cresbard. To this union was born five children. The children received their education in the Cresbard School and attended CCD classes at St. Thomas Church in Faulkton of which they were members. In 1975, Don and Margaret sold the farm and purchased a home in Faulkton. Don passed away on March 7,1976. After his death, Margaret spent a few years helping cook for the students in Polo and lived with her Aunt Marie Venjohn. Together they made many quilts and played many games of cards with the Polo ladies. In 1984, Margaret retired and moved to Miller where she enjoyed spending time with many relatives and her many hobbies. Margaret moved to Brookings in 1991 where she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending their many activities, especially hockey and soccer. She was active at St. Thomas More Church, Senior Citizen Center, and Bible Study Group. Her husband, her daughter Margene, and four brothers and her sister preceded Margaret in death. She is survived by four children and their spouses, Laurie and Kathy Gerdes, James and Rosalie Gerdes, William and Jodi Gerdes and Marilyn and Doyle Ruhlman, ten grandchildren, Doug Gerdes, Dr. Jodi Gerdes, Michael Johnson, Sandi Sippel and her husband Monte, Amy Petersen, Erin Schipper and her husband Nate, Dr. Lindsey Gerdes, David Ruhlman and his wife Tiffany, Dawn Ruhlman, and Drew Ruhlman, and six great-grandchildren, Alyssa Sippel, Madison Sippel, Sarah Sippel, Hudson Petersen, Griffin Petersen, and Harper Ruhlman, and her brother Leo.