Margaret Godsk

Margaret Godsk, 99, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau. Her funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on  Saturday, July 22, 2023  in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Interment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the start of the funeral service.

Margaret Elaine Godsk was born on July 7, 1924 at Centerville, SD, the daughter of Joseph and Emma (Johnson) Haverberg. She grew up in Centerville where she attended school. She graduated from Centerville High School in 1942. She worked as a clerk in the downtown grocery store and later became a telephone operator in Centerville. She married Jesse Donald Godsk on January 17, 1948 at the Scandia Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on the Godsk family farm near Dell Rapids. Margaret truly believed in family, so she quickly adjusted to her new life of working hard on the farm. It was on this farm that Margaret and Jesse raised their three children: David Donald, Susan Margaret, and Joe Jon. The couple continued to farm until 1996 when they retired and moved into Dell Rapids, where they continued to live for the next 24 years.

Although Margaret was kept more than busy on the farm, she always made time for her children, all the extended family, her friends, and her faith. Margaret loved to cook, bake, sew, knit, crochet, and even mastered hardanger embroidery. Needless to say, her hands were never idle. Margaret was a very active member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids, Women of ELCA, assisted with Luther League, helped serve many lunches in support of church activities and was Lead of the Prayer Chain for many years.

Margaret and Jesse were well known for doing everything together, from farm work, to church every Sunday, to socializing with friends and family, to playing cards at the Senior Citizen’s Center, as well as taking care of each other through any illness. They were the “Salt and Pepper” of the community and our family. Margaret lost the love of her life when Jesse passed away on February 9, 2022.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband (Jesse Donald Godsk), her parents (Joe and Emma Haverberg), her sisters (Faye Christensen, Helen Raker, Anita Raymond, Ardis Haverberg, and Joanne Cole), several brothers-in-law and nephews. She is survived by her son, David (Louisa) Godsk of San Francisco, CA; daughter, Susan (David) Bredlow of Dell Rapids, SD; son, Joe (Margarita) Godsk of Miami, FL; her five grandchildren, Nancy Godsk, Kimberlie (Chet) Pascoe, Amie (Brian) Prue, Caramie (Justin) Faini, and Christopher (Stephanie) Berger; and her 10 great-grandchildren.

Margaret was blessed with a long life filled with many meaningful family and friend memories. She will always be remembered as our family’s matriarch and angel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids 150th Anniversary Celebration Fund.

The service will be live-stream on the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lutheranchurchdellrapids5493/streams

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret Godsk, please visit our floral store.