Marge Puepke

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Obituary

Marge Puepke, 82, of Ethan, SD, passed away Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston. A Celebration of Life will be 10:30 AM Saturday, September 13, at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be Friday, September 12, from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Marge Mae Puepke was born August 23, 1942, to Eugene and Martha (Weishaar) Opp in Eureka, SD.

Marge loved spending time with her family and friends, fishing and camping on the Missouri River. Denny and Marge spent most weekends there for many years. Denny has often said, “She was my life partner, my fishing partner, my darts partner, my business partner, and the love of my life.” Marge always caught the biggest fish (despite what Denny would have you believe!) Her most joyous times at the river were with her kids, Tambi and Jess, and her grandkids, Cameron, Nathan, and Jordyn, while they were growing up. They would make breakfast over the fire, fish and swim all day, cook the best burgers, dogs, and steaks over the fire, make s’mores, play pitch, and watch the stars. Later, their great-grandchildren were able to enjoy their time at the river. Marge also enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards with her kids and grandkids, playing bridge with her Ethan ladies, throwing darts, and finding just the right funny t-shirt for Christmas gifts.

Marge was a great artist and enjoyed drawing pictures and portraits. Marge’s career involved bookkeeping for their grain bin and plumbing business. She also helped put up some of the grain bins. She enjoyed the orderliness of keeping the records. Prior to her failing health, she enjoyed cooking for family gatherings. Her German sausage with macaroni and cheese, fried walleye, bean soup, rice pudding, dumplings, creamy cucumbers, sautéed asparagus with toast and hard-boiled eggs (sounds odd but trust us!) were favorites. Marge loved to laugh and to make others laugh. Her devilish giggle was infectious and is passed down to her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, and will live on with them. We will dearly miss our treasured Marge, Motsie, Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma.

Marge is survived by her husband, Dennis Puepke of Ethan SD; children, Jess Puepke of Mitchell, SD and Tambi (Bruce) Heiter, Bondurant, IA; siblings, Don Opp of Grand Junction, CO, Jerry (JoAnn) Opp of San Jose, CA, Joyce (Jerry) Hunstad of Aberdeen, SD, Shirley (Howard) Holliman of Kerrville, TX, Connie Akers of Groton, SD, Kermit Opp of Portland, OR, and Tom Opp of New Braunfels, TX; grandchildren and great Grandchildren, Cameron (Amy) Puepke, Porter, Peyton, Paxton and Payzen, of Mitchell, SD, Nathan Puepke, Alice of Mitchell, SD, Jordyn (Austin) Wiser, Bennett, Archer of Ankeny, IA Bridget (Brian) Gilbertson of Eyan, Al, Charlotte, Carsyn, Finn of Hawley, MN, Jason Heiter of Des Moines, IA, Cori (Nick) Kaufman, Brekin, Brode, Callie, Maggie, Walker of Canova, SD Katrina Dennis, Gwenn, Gunner of Tripp, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martha and Eugene Opp; siblings, Wilbert Opp, Elton Opp, Stanley Opp, and Tim Opp.

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