Margaret M. Geister, 97 of Prior Lake passed away on Saturday, July 14, 2012.
Visitation will be on Saturday, July 21st from 10-11 am with the Celebration of Life Service to follow 11 AM at Immanuel Lutheran on Fish Lake, Prior Lake, MN. Margaret will be laid to rest at Fish Lake Lutheran Cemetery.
Margaret’s Story
Margaret Marie Evermann was born on November 13, 1914 in Lydia, Minnesota to parents Theodore and Anna (Busacker) Evermann. Margaret grew up with her older brother Paul on the Evermann farm just east of Lydia and attended school at Lydia and Immanuel Lutheran Church through eighth grade.
As a teenager, Margaret met Edwin Geister at a local dance and the couple married on June 28, 1933 during the Great Depression. The couple resided at the farm in Spring Lake Township where Margaret would remain until 2011. When they began farming they did not have the benefits of electricity, indoor plumbing or even a tractor. Margaret carried a lantern to light the shed while Ed milked their seven cows by hand. A sow given to the couple by the bride’s parents produced seven piglets, and a few chickens provided eggs. Despite rationing and difficult years, the couple persevered and was eventually able to build a barn and exchange the work horses for a tractor.
Margaret and Edwin became parents in 1938 to Karen Ann in 1945 to Joanne Margaret, and in 1951 to Kenneth Edward. Life involved much hard work helping in the fields and barn as well as cooking, cleaning, laundry, canning, gardening and child-rearing. For many years there was a large strawberry patch and many rows of sweet corn, raspberries and vegetables. Socially the couple attended many wedding dances, played cards with friends and made an annual trip to a cousin’s cabin in Northern Minnesota. Margaret and Ed were lifelong members of Immanuel Lutheran Church and instilled the importance of Christian faith in their children.
Edwin passed away suddenly on May 9, 1986 leaving Margaret to adjust to life on her own. Within the first two years after the loss of her husband, Margaret underwent three major surgeries and yet, after doing so, she maintained her independence. She traded in the big Crown Victoria for a front wheel drive Ford Focus with a rear spoiler.
Margaret’s family was her life, and she continued welcoming children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with countless cookies, her smile and her interest in each one’s life.
Early in 2011, after a fall, Margaret was hospitalized. She stayed at her daughter’s home, was re-hospitalized and spent a brief time in a nursing facility leading to the decision to enter assisted living at Keystone in Prior Lake in June of that year.
Margaret sorely missed being on the farm where she had lived since her wedding day. Margaret’s granddaughter Judy moved from California to share Margaret’s apartment and be her “care companion” which Margaret valued a great deal.
On July 8, 2012 after complaining of discomfort, Margaret was hospitalized with a bowel obstruction. Given her advanced age, she declined quickly but without complaint. With her family and pastor present, Margaret peacefully left this world to be with her Heavenly Father on the evening of July 14th.
Margaret will be lovingly remembered by her children, Karen Mueller of Bloomington, Joanne (James) Haferman of Fifty Lakes, Kenneth Geister of Inver Grove Heights; her grandchildren, Jeff Mueller of Ely, Judy Mueller of Prior Lake, Janet (Greg) Behning of Woodstock, IL, Tim (Chrystine) Haferman of Zumbrota, Todd (Cindy) Haferman of Shakopee, Andrew (Lan) Geister of Thornton, CO, Claire Geister of Helena, MT; and her great grandchildren, Katie, Nathan, Josh, Dave, Anna Behning; Cole and Grant Haferman, and Blake and Riley Haferman. Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, Edwin; parents, Theodore and Anna brother, Paul and son-in-law, William Mueller.
