Margaret Edith McQuistan

Margaret Edith (Hunt) McQuistan was born in Niobrara, Nebraska, on September 3, 1909 to Fred and Edith (Rasley) Hunt. She attended the Niobrara schools and Wayne State Teacher’s College to obtain her Life Teaching Certificate. She taught in a country school in Knox County for a short time, then at the Thurston Public Schools. In Thurston she taught in the primary grades and taught penmanship to all the students. She had beautiful, easily recognized handwriting. While living in Thurston, she met her future husband, Edward Wallace McQuistan, whom she married on January 23, 1932. They spent their happy years of marriage on a farm in Wayne County. They had five children. Margaret’s husband Edward passed away on September 25, 1960. She returned to teaching to teaching in 1963 and taught the third grade in the Pender Schools until she resumed college to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1970. She was admitted to an honorary Sorority. She then returned to Pender Public Schools as the school librarian and audio-video specialist until she retired in 1980. Margaret started announcing the first day of spring to the school children soon after returning to teaching and continued to do so every year for 40 years, including this past spring. She would appear in the classrooms in a long flowered dress, ringing a school bell of her grandfather’s, and carrying a sprig of pussy willows. She wore a hat with a new bobble added each year, asking the students to guess what the new ornament was. She always brought a small gift for each student as a remembrance. Margaret had a keen interest in each of her students and continued to follow their careers. She has also taken a special interest in each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, encouraging each of them to do their best in life and seeking the best possible education. Margaret read, she prayed, and shared her life with so many, and loved each of them. She was a good wife, a good mother and grandmother and a good friend to all. Margaret printed booklets for family and friends at Christmas for years, including memories from the past and adding favorite poetry and stories. Margaret shared her knowledge of cooking with her many grandchildren and they were quick to call her when they needed help. Friends who came hunting in the fall stated that the highlight of their day was stopping at Margaret’s for warm cinnamon rolls right from the oven. Margaret has been active in the Presbyterian Church since childhood and has held numerous positions in the Pender Presbyterian Church including being the first church elder. She had been active in P.E.O., serving as an international delegate, and Eastern Star, where she was a national delegate, and holding many offices in each. She was also involved with a neighborhood ladies aide, a long running Bible Study with neighbors, and bridge clubs. She was a member of the Pender Library Board at its inception. Margaret has had a great interest in the history of Nebraska, and most especially in the histories of Wayne and Thurston Counties. She moved into Pender in 1965 and resided there until moving into the Oakland Heights Care Center in 2006. Margaret is survived by her children: Margaret Jean (Peggy) Young and her husband John of Blair, NE, William McQuistan and his wife Janyce, and Neal James McQuistan both of rural Wayne County (Pender), NE. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild, a sister-in-law, Marilou Reeger of Wakefield, NE, G. E. King of Carmel California. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edward, sons Edward Larry and Kenneth Lloyd McQuistan, and a daughter-in-law, Georgia (Neal’s wife), two brothers and three sisters, a grandson, Edward McQuistan and a great grandson, Jacob Edward Niday.