Marjorie Perry, 88
Marjorie Jean Perry, 88, of Brandon, S.D., passed away peacefully from heart failure on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, S.D. Her memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at Brandon Lutheran Church in Brandon. Burial will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D., at a later date. For those that will be attending, the family requests that you wear something red, as it was her favorite color. In honor of Marjorie’s legacy of giving, the family requests that memorials be directed to Brandon Lutheran Church in Brandon or Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.
Marjorie was born Oct. 21, 1936, in Watertown, S.D., to David and Mary Skinner. She grew up in Watertown, graduating from Watertown High School in 1955. She attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, where she met Lyle Perry. They were married on Dec.18, 1955, in Watertown, and soon after began their life together at Fort Benning, Ga., while Lyle served in the U.S. Army.
In 1959, the couple settled in Pierre, S.D., where they raised their three children, Julie, Mark, and Paula. Marjorie worked for the South Dakota Legislature, Secretary of State Lorna Herseth, and the Pierre Public Schools. She was an active and devoted member of Lutheran Memorial Church for 45 years, where she sang in the choir, was a wedding coordinator and quilted with the quilting group. Marge cherished her Pierre friendships, including a monthly card-playing couples’ group that became lifelong friends. She shared her talents making homemade cards, homemade baked goods and volunteered in local schools. She enjoyed theater and shared a special trip with daughters and granddaughters to see “Mamma Mia”. Marge loved to travel and documented her adventures in a scrapbook for every trip.
In 2000, Marge began a difficult, but loving journey of caring for Lyle at home after he was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia. After Lyle passed in 2005, she moved to Brandon to be closer to family. There, she found a new church home at Brandon Lutheran Church, where she continued her faithful service in the choir, WELCA, and the quilting group. She was a volunteer at Sanford Hospital for 14 years. She continued to perfect the art of handmade cards, sharing them with family and friends. he never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, always lovingly crafting treat bags and gifts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Marge would hope that her generosity, gracious spirit, and kindness would live on in her family. Her gifts, material and emotional, always came with her encouragement to “pay it forward” to someone in need.
Grateful for sharing her life are her children, Julie Kelley of Sioux Falls, Mark (Kendra) Perry, Sioux Falls, and Paula (Roger) Waltman of Parkston, S.D.; her grandchildren, Amy Kelley of Sioux Falls, Susan (Travis) Wicks of Madison, S.D., Tom (Laura Hatfield) Kelley of Boston, Mass., Jenna (Aaron) Truckenbrod of Sioux Falls, Joshua Perry of Brandon, Samantha Tesch, Meghan Perry, Kooper Perry, and Kade (Autumn) Lamberty, Kenley (Ally) Lamberty, all of Sioux Falls, Kylie Lamberty of Minneapolis, Minn., Alex (Alyssa) Waltman of Sioux Falls, and Tanna (Isaac) McMahon of Brookings; her great-grandchildren, Zachary, Winter, and Andrew Osdoba, Ronan Wicks;,Harrison, Henrik, and Hayes Truckenbrod, Wolfgang and Matilda Tesch, and Lily and baby girl McMahon, to be born in November; brother-in-law, Howard Perry of Spearfish, S.D.; sister-in-law, Lorraine Skinner of Schaumberg, Ill.; nieces, Cathy Sullivan, Sharon Christen, and Melanie Stein; nephews, Jeff and Stuart Skinner; and countless friends, whom became family over the years.
Marge was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; parents, David and Mary; in-laws, Leonard and Irene Perry; brother, Donald Skinner; sister-in-law, Elaine Perry; niece, Paige Perry-Reeser, and son-in-law, Tom Kelley.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.
