Margaret Chandler, age 85, of Watertown, S.D. passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at Prairie Lakes Hospital.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 10:30 with visitation one hour prior to the service at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Reverend Paul Janke will officiate with music by Karen Livingston and Rachel Wendler.

Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Cliff Chandler, Andrew and Eric Gerberding, Tom, Dan and Matt Peterson .

Honorary pallbearers will be Foley Garden Club members both past and present; and her special friends, Bernita Ellingson, Velma Wildeboer, Robin Briggs and Marcie Pulfrey.

Memorials may be directed to St. Martin’s Lutheran School or St. Martin’s hymnal fund: 1200 2nd St NE, Watertown, SD 57201.

Margaret Irene Czech was born on January 18, 1936 in Watertown to Elmer and Ellen (Eastman) Czech. She was raised by her grandparents Anna and William Czech, as her mother passed away shortly after she was born.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She attended Grant Elementary School and graduated from Watertown High School in 1954. Margaret married her high school sweetheart, Carroll Chandler, on March 3, 1954. They were married 66 years. She was a homemaker and a hardworking farm wife, working alongside her husband in the dairy business.

Later she worked at Jenkins in the kitchen for 16 years. She and Carroll went on many road trips including threshing shows and auction sales. She helped with many 4-H projects, was a 4-H leader, volunteered at her church and the hospital gift shop. Margaret belonged to Extension Clubs, St. Martin’s Ladies Club and the Foley Garden Club.

Margaret enjoyed baking, gardening and her flowers, collecting antiques, playing pinochle and reading.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Greg (Denise) of Watertown, SD, Robbin (Jerald) Gerberding of Castlewood, SD, and Tim (Christine) Chandler of Florence, SD; her grandchildren, Katie and Cliff Chandler, Andrew (Becky) and Eric Gerberding, and Heidi (Kevin) Turner; her great- grandchildren, Maxwell Chandler,

Lauren, Bennett and Kolt Gerberding; her step great-granddaughters, Katie, Abby and Lydia Kooima; sisters-in-law, Rosanne Chandler of Watertown, SD, Ormelle Hedblad and Audrey Pearson of Minneapolis, MN, and Elois Redlin of Clear Lake, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; her husband, Carroll; a sister, Mildred Kones; a daughter, Pam Brandsrud; and a granddaughter, Sarah Brandsrud.