Margaret F. Berry (Marge) passed away on March 23, 2024, at the age of 81, after a brief illness and was surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy of caring and serving others. Her battle with medical issues in recent years showed her courage in facing challenges with a smile. Despite the pain, Margaret was strong, brave, and determined until the end.
Margaret spent her childhood in rural Perkins County on the Nebraska family farm. Working alongside two younger brothers, it was where she acquired the hardworking nature and ambitious spirit she carried with her throughout her life.
Margaret was the first of three children born to Alfred and Mildred Lempke. She attended schools in both Wallace and Grainton with her senior year of high school being at Grant, Nebraska. She graduated at a young age and attended med tech school in Denver before marrying Bob Schneider. Together, they had two girls, Sandy and Kristi, and made their home in Holyoke, Colorado, for several years. After a divorce, she and her young family continued to reside in Holyoke.
Many people met Margaret during her tenure at Farmers State Bank (now First Pioneer National Bank), where she worked for several decades after a short time as a food service aide at Holyoke's Regent Park nursing and long-term care facility. She also supplemented her full-time work schedule with several part-time jobs, including waitressing at The Skillet restaurant. After retiring from full-time employment, she worked part-time at the Heginbotham Library for several years, which combined her love of people and reading.
In July of 1999, Margaret married Mark Berry, whom she met through a shared love of square dancing. They enjoyed 25 years together in Lamar, Nebraska, before her death.
The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Margaret, and her two daughters meant the world to her. Although she often worked multiple jobs to support her family, she always managed to find time to attend her children's school activities and sporting events. She was their best cheerleader at the club swimming competitions and was always available to help with homework or 4-H projects.
She had an uncanny ability to find happiness in her daily activities. She adored animals and often adopted stray cats or small dogs that needed a forever home. Suzy, Lizzy, and Lucky were some of her favorite four-legged companions and held a special place in her heart. Her love of reading, developed at a young age, never went away and was something she passed along to her two daughters. Although she always claimed that she wasn't creative, talented, or artistic, she proved otherwise, often producing award-winning hand-embroidered linens at county fairs. She enjoyed baking, and her breads and pie crusts made from scratch were always requested by those who had tasted her creations. Her pleasant personality was contagious to everyone she met. She loved to socialize and was active in several community organizations throughout her life, including Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Library, and the Imperial VFW Ladies Auxiliary in her later years. She often volunteered at various community activities and events and felt that it was important to serve and support her local community.
Margaret is survived by her husband, Mark Berry, and his two adult children (Tammy and Kelly); daughters, Sandy Engle (Denny) of Fort Morgan, CO, and Kristi Birdsall of Arvada, CO; brother, David Lempke (Mary) of Wallace, Nebraska, and their children Celeste, Jennifer, Phillip, and John Paul.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Mildred Lempke; brother, Vincent Lempke; and nephew, Ezra Lempke.
For those wishing to honor her life with a memorial, please consider donating to Perkins County Animal Shelter, the Imperial Community Center Meals on Wheels program, or a charity of choice. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com, where the Mass will be streamed live.
Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, April, 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial with Fr. Lothar Gilde as Celebrant. Interment will be in the Morning View Cemetery at Wallace, Nebraska.
Visitation will be at 6 p.m. prior to the Rosary and Wake Service on Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.