Margaret Haber, 99, of Brookings, and formerly of White, passed away on November 4, 2022, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings at 2:00 P.M.  There will be a short time of fellowship following the service prior to burial at Fairview Cemetery in White.  A time of visitation will precede the service from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.  The service will be recorded and uploaded to the Eidsness Funeral Home website Friday afternoon.

Margaret Clarice Walker Haber was born February 27, 1923 to Jacob and Dora Reiter Kruse Walker.  She grew up with eleven siblings in Brookings County on a farm west of White, SD.  She attended grade school in Afton District #12 and graduated from White High School in 1941.  Margaret continued her education at Beadle State Teachers College in Madison and taught in various country schools in Brookings County for seven years.

On June 19, 1949 Margaret married Merlin Haber at the Methodist Church in White, SD.  They lived on the family farm east of White where they were blessed with three children, Dennis, Jeanine and Marsha.  Margaret kept busy on the farm enjoying her large garden and mastering her love of baking.  Missing the joy of teaching, Margaret began working for the Deubrook School System in Toronto, SD as a teacher's aide.  She spoke so fondly of the many years at the elementary school.  After her retirement, she looked forward to the coffee and lunch dates with her teaching partners who had become such good friends.

Margaret belonged to the United Methodist Church in White and was currently the oldest living member.  Over the years she had taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and held several offices in the Methodist Women's Group.  She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and the local extension club.

During the fall of 1992, Merlin and Margaret moved to Brookings.  Margaret truly loved living in Brookings and always said they had picked the best neighborhood to live in.  She enjoyed the coffee gatherings, her daily walks, sometimes twice a day, and even the opportunity to tutor a few neighborhood children now and then.  As a couple, Merlin and Margaret decided to start volunteering at the Neighborhoods at Brookview helping with resident outings and the Bingo activities.   It had to be a pretty major emergency for either of them to miss their volunteer work.

Above all else, Margaret's ultimate joy in life were the moments she got to spend with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Nothing could light up a room more than Margaret's smile when she saw them come through the door.  She was extremely proud of her four grandchildren and four great grandchildren who lovingly called her Grandma Margaret and GG Margaret.

Merlin and Margaret celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to Merlin's passing in December of 2009.  Margaret continued living in their home on Victory Street until moving to StoneyBrook Suites Assisted Living in June of 2014.  In December of 2017,  Margaret moved to the Neighborhoods at Brookview where ironically she had spent many hours volunteering.  She remained a resident there until her passing.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Neighborhoods at Brookview and Brookings Hospice for their compassionate care and love shown to Margaret over the years.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two daughters, Jeanine (Terry) McKeown of Brookings, SD and Marsha (Craig) Leite of Volga, SD.  Her grandchildren include Jessica (Eric) Loos of Overland Park, KS, Brett McKeown and special friend Elsie Smith of Sioux Falls, SD, Mallory Leite and fiancé Joshua Freeseman of Arlington, SD and Tyson (Nicole) Leite of Brookings, SD.  Great grandchildren are Abby and Logan Loos of Overland Park, KS and Jackson and Grayson Leite of Brookings, SD.  Margaret is also survived by her sister Marilyn Skogstad of Sioux Falls, SD, brother-in-law Harold (Marlys) Haber of White, SD. along with many special nieces, nephews and special friend Lola Knuth.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Merlin, her son Dennis, brothers Harm, Arthur, Eddie, Floyd, Vernon, and sisters, Mathilda, Frances, Gladys, Elvera and Neva Jean, as well as other loved ones.

Blessed be her memory.