Madonna J. Merkel

Madonna J. (Mrs. Donald) Merkel, age 57, Bradley, formerly of Wessington Springs, died at her home in Bradley early Tuesday morning, February 3, 2009 after a long illness. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 1:30 PM in the St. Joseph Catholic Church at Wessington Springs, SD with The Reverend Msgr. Edward Burian and The Reverend Jim Fredrich celebrants. Music will be provided by Lois Feistner as pianist and vocalists will be Eileen Woodruff, Joyce & Lori Smith and Lynette Grieve. Casketbearers will be Forrest, Brian, Mathew, Alex and Grant Thompson and Russell Abernathy. Burial will follow in the St. Placidus (Duncan) Cemetery at Gann Valley, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark, on Friday from 5-8 PM with a Liturgical Wake Service at 7:30PM all in the St. Joseph Church at Wessington Springs and prior to the services Saturday in the Church. She was born on March 22, 1951 at Miller, the daughter of Thomas and Lottie (Geiver) Thompson. She grew up on a farm in Jerauld County where she attended a country grade school and then High School in Wessington Springs. She enjoyed riding horses, riding every day to grade school and also helping her Dad round-up cattle. She was active in 4-H having projects in sewing clothes and showing baby beef cattle. She was united in marriage to Donald Miller in May of 1968. To this union four children were born. On June 28, 1991 she was united in marriage to Donald Merkel. They have made their home in Bradley. Madonna had worked at various places of employment but her greatest joy was working with troubled teens and helping others until she had to stop due to health issues. Some of her fondest moments were spent riding with her husband, taking trips on their motorcycles, to different spots of the country. Madonna is survived by her husband Donald Merkel of Bradley, four children, Dulcie (Dick) Dailey, Sonja Cole and Cody Miller all of Watertown and Jean Miller of Aberdeen; 5 grandchildren, Chelsea, Megan, Wyatt, Christian and Bronson and a great-granddaughter, Avah. Also surviving her are her parents, Thomas and Lottie Thompson of Wessington Springs, and siblings, Marvin Thompson of Rapid City, Timothy Thompson of Watertown, Ronald (Kay) Thompson of Wessington Springs and Dorothy (Jack) Abernathy of Gann Valley, SD, Mother-in-law, Darlene Merkel and a brother-in-law, Danny (Connie) Merkel all of Bradley. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and a host of friends. Preceding her in death were her paternal and maternal grandparents. Arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where you can sign an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com. Assisting the family with arrangements in Wessington Springs is Basham Funeral Home at (605) 539-9774.