Margaret M McDonald

Margaret Marie McDonald
Oct.27, 1941 - May 4th, 2019
Longtime resident of Benkelman passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 4 2019, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Margaret was 77 years of age.
Margaret was born October 27, 1941 to Charles and Ella (Wardyn) McChesney in Kearney, Nebraska. Margaret spent her childhood days in Alliance Nebraska where she attended St Agnes Academy, graduating in 1959. Margaret Graduated from Chadron State College in 1963 with a bachelor’s in education degree. On June 17, 1965 Margaret married a local young lad, John H. McDonald of Benkelman in Alliance Nebraska. The couple both taught school in Lovell, Wyoming and St. Francis Kansas before returning to Benkelman in June of 1969.
Margaret devoted 38 years to the instruction of children. This tenure included: two years in Lovell Wyoming, two years in Sydney Nebraska, one year in St. Francis Kansas and the remainder in the Benkelman/ Dundy County Schools system. For 22 of her 38, she worked part-time in the Dundy County schools and began full –time employee employment in the fall of 1994. She retired after the 2005-2006 term.
As an educator, Margaret had a passion for sports, and keeping children active. Margaret delighted her young students with fun games that encouraged participation, fun and teaching the joy of exercise. Her primary passions included tennis and volleyball. Margaret coached at the Benkelman/Dundy County Middle and High Schools for a series of eight years. Her coaching tenure ended with leading the Varsity Volleyball team for 3 seasons. After Margaret completed her master’s in counseling from Kearney State College, 1992, she also assumed guidance counseling activities and English teaching roles. Margaret was a respected colleague, who often mentored new teacher and held leadership roles in the NSEA.
Margaret enjoyed gardening and tennis in early younger years. After retirement, Margaret enjoyed playing bridge and helping her husband John on the family farm. Margaret loved to dance! John and she could be seen on the dance floor having a great time. She and John enjoyed many years travelling to Minnesota to visit their daughter Dana and her family. She and John also spend years traveling to auctions and cattle sales. Her main joy was her six grandchildren. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend and community member. Margaret had a deep faith in god and her friends.
Margaret served on the Hester Home Board and was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Ella (Wardyn) McChesney, and her husband John of Benkelman.

She is survived by her children: son, Shawn and wife, Myrth of Silverthorne, Colo., daughter, Dana McDonald and husband, Dylan Beffel of Ham Lake, Minn.; six grandchildren, Isabella McDonald, Aurora Beffel, Marketta Beffel, John McDonald, Jay McDonald, and Lyle McDonald. Also surviving is her brother and sister-in-law, Bob (Julie) McChesney of North Platte, Neb., Sister and brother-in-law, and Mary (George) Toline of Wahoo, Neb.; Brother-in-law, Carl Antholz of McDonald KS; and Brother and sister-in-law Bob (Janet) McDonald of Fort Collins, CO.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, May 23, 2019, 10 am, MST, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Benkelman, with the Rev. Matthew Eickhoff officiating,

A Rosary will be recited before services on Thursday, starting at 9:00am, MST. Inurnment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery.

No visitation, cremation was chosen.

Memorials will be utilized to establish a “John and Margaret Scholarship Fund” Proceeds can be sent to
School 117 Foundation
PO Box 586
Benkelman, NE 69021

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