Peggy Lou Ketler

Peggy Lou Crosier (Swigert) Ketler was born the third child of Orvile and Grace Crosier in Hot Springs, SD on January 14, 1935. She left this earth on January 28, 2023 at the age of 88 years and 2 weeks.

As a child Peggy lived with her parents and siblings in Buffalo Gap and Oral South Dakota. A favorite memory that she often shared was eating watermelons that they had grown on the farm. She graduated from Hot Springs South Dakota High School in 1953. Peggy went on to Spearfish SD and received her teaching certificate, but put her career on hold when she met a dashing young farmer named Don Swigert from Oelrichs, SD. Don and Peggy were married on March 18, 1955. To this union, three children were born, Helen Louise (Swigert) McSwain, Robert Donald Swigert, and Tammy Colleen (Swigert) Showers.

As the children grew, Peggy became a dedicated 4-H leader, and saw many children in Fall River County win ribbons at the County Fair in Edgemont, SD for cooking, sewing, beef, and gardening. When her children were older, Peggy went back to school at Chadron State College and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She then served the Oelrichs School System by teaching the rural Pettigrew and Thompson Schools. She loved teaching and seeing children’s light bulbs turn on when they understood a concept.

Don passed away in the summer of 1977. After a few years of being single, Peggy met and married Garry Ray Ketler from Benkelman NE. They were married in Saint Francis, Kansas, January23, 1984. Peggy and Garry both furthered their education in Health Care. Peggy became a Registered Nurse, and committed her life to caring for others. She worked at hospitals in Benkelman and Saint Francis, KS; was a home health nurse in Goodland, KS, and an RN at Centennial Nursing Home in Greeley, CO. She retired from nursing at the ripe age of 77.

After retirement Garry and Peggy moved to Benkelman, NE. There they were surrounded by friends and family. As a couple, Garry and Peggy loved to have fun. In earlier years they went dancing and to the mountains in Black Hawk and Cripple Creek Colorado. Peggy also loved to play scratch tickets. And she laughed at all of Garry’s jokes.

Peggy is preceded in death by her parents, Orvile and Grace Crosier; husbands, Donald B. Swigert and Garry R. Ketler; grandson Heath Swigert; granddaughter, Kristi Lutz; brother and sister-in law, Larry and Marta Ketler; and sisters, Patricia K. (Crosier) Elston and Susanna J. (Crosier) Greenwood.

Peggy is survived by her children, Helen of Benkelman, NE; son, Robert of Benkelman, NE; and daughter, Tammy of Council Bluffs, IA; brother, Bert Crosier of Rock River, WY; sister, Judy Hackmann of Virginia Beach, VA; sister-in law, Lana (Rod) Wiese of Benkelman; and grandchildren, Travis Lutz (Pam) of rural Parks, NE, Nick Tanner Lutz-Gensler (Ryan) of Aurora, CO, Alishia (Roy) Shapley and Emilee Swigert of Benkelman, NE, Jesse (Renee) Corbin and Shawn (Brandy) of Arnold, NE, Bobby and Hunter Will of Council Bluffs, IA; 20 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Also left to mourn are her nephew and niece, Kirk and Kara Ketler of Pennsylvania.

Peggy chose cremation and will be inurned with Garry at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE.

Online obituary and condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.

BENKELMAN MEMORIAL CHAPEL IS ENTRUSTED WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS.