Marie Biegler

Mass of Christian Burial for Marie Biegler, 84, of Rapid City, formerly of Timber Lake, will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake, SD. Burial will be at the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the church with a prayer service immediately after. The funeral service on Saturday will be livestreamed on the Kesling Funeral Home Facebook page.

Marie was born on April 20, 1936 to parents Frank and Dorothy (Schweitzer) Silbernagel at the family farm near Trail City. She was the oldest of eight children. During her early years she spoke only German. Marie attended grade school in Trail City on the Dewey County side of the highway. When she was about 9 or 10 years old, she and her brother, Jim, were sent home from school until they learned English.

She attended high school in Timber Lake, graduating in 1954. That fall she started at the National College of Business in Rapid City. After graduation she returned to Timber Lake. Marie’s first job was at Moreau-Grand Electric, where she started in July, 1955. She started working at the Timber Lake Livestock Auction in 1958 and worked there every Wednesday for 25 years until it closed.

On September 16, 1958 Marie married Pius Biegler at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Trail City. They made their home northwest of Timber Lake, where they raised cattle and sheep, wheat and oats. Marie grew a big garden every year and did lots of canning. She loved visitors and if she saw them turn into the driveway, she had the coffee brewing before they got to the front door.

She rarely missed the monthly Altar Society and Birthday Club meetings. Marie was an excellent cook and many have fond memories of her chocolate zucchini bread, donuts, caramel rolls, and especially her kuchen, which was known to disappear from the freezer when she wasn’t looking.

Pius and Marie were married for 50 years. After Pius’ death in 2009 Marie moved to Rapid City. Many in the family have a set of hand embroidered dish towels made during her time in Rapid City. She resided in Rapid City until her death on January 26, 2021.

Marie is survived by her five children: Karen Biegler of Wake Forest, NC, Deb Porter of Edgemont, Pam (Dave) Charron of Glendale, AZ, Gene (Kendra) Biegler of Rapid City, and Sonny (Jim) Wheeler of Philip; 17 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Bob (Joanne) Silbernagel of Rapid City, and sisters,; Linda (Dan) Arnio of Rapid City, Pat Silbernagel of Rapid City, Peggy (Bill) Schell of Mesa, AZ, Elaine (Brad) Haack of Bismarck, ND, and Kathie Silbernagel of Pierre; and sisters-in-law, Harriet Silbernagel of Summerset, Mary Biegler of Mobridge, and Mary Anne Biegler of Timber Lake

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother, Jim, one sister-in-law, Phyllis (Biegler) Martian, and four brothers-in-law, Alfred Biegler, Emil Biegler, Walter Grage, and Joe Martian.

Memorials may be directed to the family of Marie Biegler in care of Sonny Wheeler, 24202 Fairview Rd. Philip, SD 57567.