Marilyn Teske | 1933 - 2023
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted Dec 5, 2023 | 10:08 AM / 356 views
PIERRE, SD –
Marilyn Johnson Teske,89, of Pierre died on Sunday, December 3rd at Avera Maryhouse in Pierre with her daughters by her side. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 8 at First United Methodist Church in Pierre at 2:00pm. For those unable to attend the service it will be live streamed on this page the day of the service.
Marilyn was born on December 30, 1933, to Joe and Edith Johnson in Sioux Falls, SD, the youngest of three daughters. She grew up in Sioux Falls, graduated from Washington High School and then Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell with a degree in education and social studies. While in college she excelled on the debate team. She also met Herb Teske and they married in December 1952.
They moved to Watertown where Marilyn taught junior high until she was almost six months pregnant – because you couldn’t be “showing” at school in those days. Marilyn and Herb had three daughters, Jody Teske, who died in August 2000, Kathy Begg of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Nancy Boe (Steve) of Pierre.
After Watertown, they lived in Mitchell, Rapid City, Pierre, Heidelberg, Germany and Phoenix, Arizona. After years of being mostly a stay-at-home mom and wife, Marilyn worked briefly again as a teacher, and then in several administrative positions, including for the South Dakota Democratic Party and the Public Utilities Commission. Marilyn also was instrumental in starting and developing Missouri Shores Women’s Resource Center in Pierre, serving as its director. She received a Woman of Achievement for Community Service Award in 1985 for this work.
During their two years in Heidelberg, Herb and Marilyn had many adventures traveling all over Europe. Marilyn and Herb returned to Pierre after living in Germany they bought and ran Robin’s Water Conditioning from 1979 until 1990.
They retired to Phoenix, Arizona and lived there until Herb’s death in 2001, after which Marilyn returned to Pierre.
Marilyn was a good Democrat, a Christian, and a feminist, meaning a person who believes in equal rights under the law for all. She showed us by example how to survive and carry on in the face of challenges and great loss and we will need to emulate that now.
Marilyn was predeceased by her husband Herb, daughter, Jody, sister, Beverly Halbritter of Sioux Falls. She is survived by her sister, Patty Johnson of Sioux Falls, her two daughters Kathy Begg and Nancy Boe, and son-in-law Steve Boe, five grandsons, Tyler Boe (Emily), Thomas Boe, Garrett Boe, Ronnie Boe (Streyle), Dylan Begg, one granddaughter, Holly Boulanger (Stefan), three great grandchildren, six nephews, three nieces and many friends.
In lieu of flowers a memorial contribution to Missouri Shores Women’s Resource Center or the George McGovern Library at Dakota Wesleyan University would be appreciated.
