Margaret De Smet

Larchwood, IA Margaret DeSmet, age 103 died Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the Doherty House in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 16th at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA, with Fr. Jeff Schleisman as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Larchwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, May 15th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. Also there will be a Vigil service at 7:00 PM at the church Friday evening. Margaret De Smet was born January 2, 1906 in Wilmont, MN to Frank and Mary (Schreurs) Schettler. When she was 6 years old the family moved to a farm near Larchwood, traveling from the Wilmont area by wagon. Margaret was the eldest of eleven children. She was raised in the Larchwood area and started her education in a one room school house and graduated from St. Marys Catholic High School in Larchwood. On February 9, 1926 she was united in marriage to Alfonso De Smet at the Church of St. Marys in Larchwood. The couple made their home on a farm near Larchwood. To this union three children were born, Leonard, Bernard and Gerrie. Margaret was an avid gardener. She loved tending her strawberry patches, raspberry bushes, and apple trees. She also loved to crochet doilies, play cards, and bowl. At the age of 85 she bowled a 233 game to the amazement and joy of her grandkids and great-grandkids. Margaret was an avid reader and very well informed. Her knowledge of facts, dates and other information was quite vast. She especially enjoyed reading biographies. She continued reading until her eyes could no longer serve her at the age of 100. Margaret drove her own car and lived in her own home until failing health caused her to enter Fellowship Village at Inwood one and a half years ago. This past Wednesday, Margaret passed away at the age of 103. She will be greatly missed. Margaret is survived by eleven grandchildren, Mark De Smet, Steve (Sandi) De Smet, Mike (Bridget) De Smet and Jim (Sara) De Smet, all of Larchwood, IA; Amy (Eric) Magnuson of Inwood, IA, Elaine (Mike) De Cesare of San Antonio, TX, Tim De Smet of Sheldon, IA, Karla Rabusch of Walnut Creek, CA, Kathy (Rob) Fagot of Eagan, MN, Tom (Annette) Rabusch of Corcoran, MN, and Paul (Stacy) De Smet of Taft, TN; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Emma Lucas, brother, Alvin Schettler, and sister, Bert Kramer all of Larchwood, IA, brother, Martin Schettler of Brandon, SD, and sister, Clara George of Rock Rapids, IA; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews and other relation. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Mary Schettler; her husband of 53 years, Alfonso De Smet; children, Leonard (Mary Ann) De Smet, Bernard (Fern) De Smet, and Gerrie (Jack) Rabusch.