Margaret Lillian (Pexton) RABER

PEXTON, RABER, GRAVES, MAY, KONECNE, BOEDING, LOWERY, DALTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/23/2008 at 21:16:50

October 6, 1916 - October 28, 2006

Margaret Lillian Raber - Age 90

Margaret Lillian Raber, daughter of Fredrick S. and Azalia (Graves) Pexton, was born October 6, 1916, in Harlan, Iowa. She attended schools in Irwin, Audubon and later graduated from East High in Des Moines with the class of 1934. After high school, Margaret attended Drake University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1939. The following autumn, she began her teaching career at Kanawha High School in Iowa. On July 19, 1942, Margaret was united in marriage with Donald A. Raber at the Wesley Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. While Donald was serving his country over seas during World War II, Margaret continued teaching in Corwith, Iowa. After Donald's honorable discharge from the United States Army, Margaret worked as a substitute teacher and tutor in Kanawha. In 1955, Donald and Margaret farmed in Kossuth and Humboldt counties in Iowa until 1962 when they moved to her grandparent's farm five miles east of Harlan. Margaret was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and held offices in the United Methodist Women. She was also a 50 year member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. Donald died on May 3, 2002, and Margaret continued to make her home in Harlan. Margaret died on October 28, 2006, at Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan having attained the age of ninety years and twenty-two days.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughters: Jane Lowery and Joyce Raber and her sister Mary Ellen May. Margaret is survived by her children: Jerry Raber of Waterloo, Iowa, Judy and her husband Steve Konecne of Hardy, Iowa, and Janice and her husband (Mark) Boeding of Columbus, Nebraska; her son-in-law, David Lowery of Chandler, Arizona; her grandchildren: Melissa Dalton, Benjamin Konecne, Maggie Konecne, Luke Boeding, Angela Boeding, Tony Boeding, Anna Boeding, Mary Boeding, Monica Boeding, Matt Boeding and Michael Boeding; her great grandsons: Seth and Evan Dalton; her brother, Fred C. Pexton of Rochester, Minnesota; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Services were held on Tuesday October 31, 2006 at the United Methodist Church at 1:30 P.M. with Rev Dave Swinton and Rev. Ron Kitterman officiating. Interment was held at Bowman's Grove with Luke Boeding, Tony Boeding, Matthew Boeding, Michael Boeding, Mark Boeding, Benjamin Konecne, and David Lowery serving as casket bearers.