Margaret Yonkovich

Margaret Ann (Naylor) Yonkovich October 3, 1948 - April 17, 2025

Margaret Ann (Naylor) Yonkovich, beloved mother to three children, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 17, 2025, at age 76 in Denton, Texas, where she lived.

Margaret was born to Eugene and Bernadine Naylor on October 3rd, 1948, in Rochester, Minnesota. She was the oldest of six siblings, Diane, Sandra, Steve, Sharon, and Nancy. She attended Lourdes High School in Rochester, graduating in 1966. Possessing beauty inside and out, she was part of the Homecoming Queen's Court her senior year. She attended Bemidji State College, majoring in Elementary Education, which prepared her for her lifelong passion of teaching and inspiring children. Upon graduation, she spent the summer of 1970 travelling abroad on a multi-country tour of Europe.

While attending Bemidji State, Margaret met Dean Yonkovich, a draftsman in the engineering department at Crenlo Incorporated, where she was a secretary. The two were married in June 1971. Margaret began her teaching career the following fall. Over the next ten years, Dean and Margaret had three children together: Dustin, Jesse, and Andy. Though their marriage wasn't permanent, Dean and Margaret remained friends throughout her life and worked together to raise their children.

Margaret's life is best described as one lived for the betterment of others. She was a devoted mother to her three sons, who were the pride and joy of her life and for whom she was most grateful. She made every birthday feel special by making amazing, creative birthday cakes. She planned memorable family trips and taught life lessons. In short, she made a house a home and raised her boys to be good men.

She was also an educator. This started by teaching her younger sisters to be "ladies," and extended to shaping young minds for twenty-seven years as an elementary school educator. She taught for four years at Brewster Elementary School in Worthington, Minnesota, from 1971 to 1975. Then, as her children got older, she returned to the classroom for an additional twenty-three years at Appleby Elementary in Blythe, California, from 1989 to 2012.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Bernadine, and her sister, Sandy. She is survived by her siblings, Diane, Steve, Sharon, and Nancy; her sons, Dustin, Jesse, and Andy; their father, Dean; her grandchildren, Aiden and McKenna; and many nieces and nephews, who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

A visitation is planned for 10:00 am, May 17, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1315 12th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901, with a memorial service at 10:45 am.