Margaret Lucille Kapsner, 83, of Cortlandt Manor, NY, passed away on July 26, 2022, at home with her family, following a brief battle with lung cancer.

Peggy, as she was affectionately known, was born to Alex and Aletha Kapsner on November 29, 1938, in Starbuck, Minnesota. When Peggy was seven, the family moved to Princeton, Minnesota. In later years and with great fondness, Peggy often reminisced over her happy childhood and told stories about swimming in Minnesota lakes, sneaking fistfuls of sauerkraut from the large cellar crock, and helping her father in his pharmacy. On Sunday mornings, the family attended church, and for the remainder of her life, Peggy remained a devout Catholic. From a young age, Peggy was bright, creative, and artistic. She sang in her high school choir and later delved into drawing and painting, fine-arts passions she pursued her whole life.

In 1956, Peggy graduated from Princeton High School and started nurse’s training in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where she graduated in 1959. Peggy went on to have a 40-year nursing career that took her to Denver, New Orleans, Steamboat Springs, and back to Denver. At every stage of her life, Peggy made lifelong friends with whom she enjoyed adventures in Minnesota, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, the Bahamas, and Hawaii.

In 1972, Peggy gave birth to her son Brian, and her mother came to live with them. The three would have their own adventures over the years, including visiting Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon National Parks. All the while, Peggy worked tirelessly as an RN, primarily working in labor and delivery. In her proudest career moment, Peggy delivered a baby.

In 2000, Peggy retired and moved to Livingston, Montana, to be closer to Brian and her grandchildren. For the next six years, Peggy occupied her time being with family, working in the Catholic church office part-time, painting in her home art studio, and taking trips to nearby Yellowstone National Park. In 2006, Peggy moved to Columbia Falls in the northwest part of the state, where she was active in her church and enjoyed trips to Glacier National Park.

In 2012, Peggy returned to her home state of Minnesota to live in Sartell, where she could be closer to her siblings and their families. Everyday, she took long walks along the Mississippi River. She again became involved in her church community. Peggy also volunteered at the local elementary school, teaching Cribbage. Peggy loved games. She was an avid Bridge and Cribbage player, enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, and played Sudoku every morning for many years.

In December 2019, Peggy made her final move to Cortlandt Manor, New York, to live with Brian and his wife Beth. With the onset of the pandemic, the three embraced their unexpected time together, taking frequent walks, befriending neighbors, enjoying social distance gatherings outside, camping, gardening, baking cookies, watching movies (favorites were The Sound of Music and any John Wayne movie), and spending time with their dogs, Pepper and Kaeya.

Peggy loved life. She loved laughing, socializing with friends and family, and telling stories–like the one about the time she and Brian cross-country skied to Christmas mass. She loved her goddaughters Kitty and Amy. She loved reading. She loved chocolate, coffee, and Baileys Irish Cream. She loved family vacations to Virginia and the Outer Banks. She loved swimming and proved to be a strong swimmer mere weeks before she passed.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents Alex and Aletha; her brothers Roland, Charles, and Adrian; and her sisters Ardeth and Kathleen. She is survived by her son Brian and daughter-in-law Beth, two grandchildren Alex and Addie, many beloved nieces and nephews, and countless friends and lives she touched throughout her lifetime.

A funeral will be held on November 25, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 219 2nd Street North, Sartell, Minnesota 56377.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Margaret Kapsner to Boys Town (https://www.boystown.org) or Walker Art Center (https://walkerart.org)

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