Margaret A. Thornton, age 99, formerly of Madison, South Dakota, passed away peacefully, Thursday, March 26, 2026 at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls. Memorial Services will be 1:00PM, Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Dow Rummel. Visitation will be one hour preceding the service. A luncheon will follow the service.
Margaret was born on February 14, 1927, at home in Hills, Rock County, Minnesota, to Alfred M. Bakk and Rachel Nordby Bakk. She was raised in Hills, Minnesota, where she attended Hills Grade School and Hills High School. She later continued her education at Dickinson Secretarial School in Sioux Falls.
On April 19, 1969, Margaret was united in marriage to Arthur H. Thornton at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. The couple made their home in Madison, South Dakota.
Margaret dedicated many years of her life to her work and community. She worked in the Butter and Milk Packaging Department at Hills Cooperative Creamery, was a sales clerk at Ben Franklin Store in Park Rapids, Minnesota, and served as a dining room hostess at Cool Ridge Resort. She later worked as a secretary at B.W. Manufacturing Company in Sioux Falls and as an office manager at Soo Veneer, Inc. She was also a business partner with Rosebud Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Margaret moved to Madison in November of 1972 and retired in 1974.
She was a devoted member of Madison United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. Margaret was active in many organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, South Dakota Hospital Auxiliary, Mayo Legacy Foundation, AARP, Sons of Norway, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and other civic groups. She was a proud graduate of Hills High School, where she was honored as valedictorian.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Rachel Bakk, husband Arthur H Thornton and her son-in-law, Bruce Swanson.
She is survived by her stepchildren, Pam Swanson, Cindy (Bruce) Knutson, Lawrence (Jeanne) Thornton and six step-grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to Dow Rummel Nursing Home in Sioux Falls.
