Margaret Lenora Long

Rock Rapids, IA

     Margaret Long age 80 of Rock Rapids, IA died Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA.

     Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, 3^rd at the Christian Church (Disciples) in Rock Rapids with Rev. Corilee Boer officiating. Burial will be at Fairview, SD.

     Visitation will be Monday, May 3^rd one hour prior to the service at the church.

     There will be a livestream link available to view the funeral service.

     Margaret Lenora (Matzen) Long was born November 13, 1940 at Canton, SD, the daughter of Albert and Lenette (Whitehead) Matzen. Margaret grew up on a farm near Inwood and when she was in high school her family moved to a farm east of Lakewood corner and later to a farm north of Rock Rapids. She attended school at Inwood and graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1958. She was a member of the Inwood High Band and played the Alto Saxophone. She also played organ and piano at her home church in Fairview, SD. As a young lady she was an avid bowler, holding league records at two different bowling alleys. She was a member of “The Classic Bowling League” in Sioux Falls, SD.

     She was united in marriage to Larry Long on February 14, 1959 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. As a newlywed couple they lived at Lakewood Corner, few years later they moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Later Larry was drafted into the U.S. Army and they moved Washington while Larry served his country. After Larry’s honorable discharge the couple moved back to Sioux Falls.

     She worked for various companies in northwest Iowa and the Sioux Falls area as an office assistant. While living in Valley Springs, Margaret and Larry owned the grocery store and later a café. They sold the grocery and the café after serval years and retired to Rock Rapids, IA. She enjoyed bowling, camping, going to car races, traveling, and playing the organ.

     This past Tuesday, April 27, 2021, Margaret died unexpectedly, at the Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, at the age of eighty.

     She is survived by her husband, Larry Long of Rock Rapids; daughter, Rhonda (Jim) Peskey of Florida; many grandchildren; siblings, Rollys (Kenny) Kahl of Sioux Falls, SD, and Terry (Denise) Matzen of Sioux Falls, SD; brother-in-law, Rick (Pat) Long of Rock Rapids. She will be greatly missed by her dear pet dog, Cooper.

     Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Lenette; daughter, Becky Long; and sister, Janice Bosler.