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Burial will be in the Hecla Cemetery under the direction of the Price Funeral Chapel of Hecla.
Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church in Hecla, with a 7 p.m. vigil service.
Maggie passed away Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls at the age of 85.
Marguaritta Agnes "Maggie" Claeys was born to Augustine and Augusta (Dalle) Claeys on Feb. 8, 1922, in Belgium. She came to America on Aug. 20, 1926, aboard the Queen Mary. Her family settled in the Hecla area, and Maggie attended the country schools near Hecla.
She married Wayne Thorpe April 27, 1943. They made their home on a farm near Hecla. Wayne died Jan. 10, 1975, and Maggie continued to make her home on the farm. She has lived an active life on the farm since they purchased it, until her last day there.
Maggie was a member of St. Anthony Padua Church and active in the altar society. She also belonged to the Portage Township Extension Club for several years, an area Birthday Club, and the Hecla American Legion Auxiliary.
She cleaned houses for several friends in the Hecla area, and drove the Hecla school bus for many years. Her hands were always busy, and she loved to make quilts, do ceramics and had crocheted several afghans. She had a vast collection of porcelain dolls and dishes.
Maggie is survived by her seven children: Leona (Jerome) Ness of Britton, Eugene (Mary) Thorpe of Hecla, Richard (JoAnn) Thorpe of Britton, Madaline (Richard) Huettl of Westport, Raymond (Ellen) Thorpe of Aberdeen, Rolland Thorpe of Hecla, and Carla (Richard) Pahl of Claremont; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and her twin sister, Marjorie Visto of Oakes, N.D.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Augustine in December 1940, and Augusta in December 1994; a brother, Marshall Claeys on Nov. 18, 2007; and a half-sister, Martha Jelen, on May 28, 2001.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Pam Rasmussen (Barton)
January 7, 2008
My heartfelt Sympathy to you all in the loss of Maggie. May God bless you in this time of sorrow.
Orin Lamport
January 3, 2008
My condolence to the family, as she will be missed by all. Margaret was a good friend of our family & neighbor. Whenever a helping hand was needed she was there. May she R.I.P.
Darlys (Hubert) Woodward
January 3, 2008
We send our sympathy to all of you. Your Mom touched many lives with all she came in contact with. Such a dedicated Mother she was, always at the school events and so full of laughter. I will always remember her during my growing up years at Hecla.
Tink and Sheila Sullivan
January 3, 2008
We'll miss you as a good friend.
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