Obituary for Margaret "Peg" McNulty
Margaret Lou “Peg” McNulty, age 89, of Watertown, S.D. died peacefully on Thursday, January 24,
2019 at Prairie Lakes Hospital. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 29, 2019
at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. A private family burial will precede the service. The
Rev. Marion Paulis will officiate, with music by AnnRae Herr.
Peg was born July 21, 1929 to Swen Paul and Hilda Mary (George) Henrickson in Huron, S.D. She
attended school in Huron until the 10th grade, when the family moved to Watertown. She graduated
from Watertown High School in 1947.
Peg married Bernard “Bunny” McNulty on January 26, 1948 in Watertown, where they resided. Peg
worked as the secretary and treasurer for McNulty Construction Company and as the bookkeeper at
The Trading Post. She was elected and re-elected many times as Codington County treasurer serving
for 26 years. She retired in December 1996.
Peg was a lifelong Democrat and proud member of the Codington County Democratic Party. She read
two newspapers daily. She was a cruciverbalist who successfully solved the New York Times crossword
puzzle in ink every day.
A voracious reader, Peg kept a large library at home and enjoyed loaning books to family and friends.
She helped run the Book Bag used book store for several years in Watertown with her daughter
Barbara and granddaughter Andrea. There she meticulously maintained an inventory of thousands of
books, many of which she had read. Customers appreciated her reviews and recommendations.
She was a fiercely determined woman who never backed down from a challenge. Widowed at a young
age, Peg dedicated her life to raising her five children as a single mother. Her sacrifices for and
dedication to her children earned her the respect of all who knew her. She was a strong role model to
her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Her legacy of hard work,
self-sacrifice, and love of laughter and family lives on in those who cherish her memory.
Peg is survived by her children Diana (Bruce) Ford and Barbara (Mark) Smith of Watertown; Brad
(Jeanita) McNulty of Blue Grass, Iowa; Mark (Theresa) McNulty of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Dawn (Ron)
Cunningham of Edina, Minn.; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bernard on September 6, 1964; and her three
sisters, Mary Thompson, Maxine Ekern, and Pauline Lansing.
She loved the Bramble Park Zoo and was a devoted supporter throughout her life. As a founding board
member of the Lake Area Zoological Society, she was instrumental in hiring the current zoo director.
This was one of her proudest accomplishments. She visited the zoo regularly with family members
young and old. Her children commemorated her 80th birthday with a granite bench at the zoo.
The family asks that memorials be directed to the Lake Area Zoological Society, PO Box 484, Watertown,
S.D. 57201.
2019 at Prairie Lakes Hospital. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 29, 2019
at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. A private family burial will precede the service. The
Rev. Marion Paulis will officiate, with music by AnnRae Herr.
Peg was born July 21, 1929 to Swen Paul and Hilda Mary (George) Henrickson in Huron, S.D. She
attended school in Huron until the 10th grade, when the family moved to Watertown. She graduated
from Watertown High School in 1947.
Peg married Bernard “Bunny” McNulty on January 26, 1948 in Watertown, where they resided. Peg
worked as the secretary and treasurer for McNulty Construction Company and as the bookkeeper at
The Trading Post. She was elected and re-elected many times as Codington County treasurer serving
for 26 years. She retired in December 1996.
Peg was a lifelong Democrat and proud member of the Codington County Democratic Party. She read
two newspapers daily. She was a cruciverbalist who successfully solved the New York Times crossword
puzzle in ink every day.
A voracious reader, Peg kept a large library at home and enjoyed loaning books to family and friends.
She helped run the Book Bag used book store for several years in Watertown with her daughter
Barbara and granddaughter Andrea. There she meticulously maintained an inventory of thousands of
books, many of which she had read. Customers appreciated her reviews and recommendations.
She was a fiercely determined woman who never backed down from a challenge. Widowed at a young
age, Peg dedicated her life to raising her five children as a single mother. Her sacrifices for and
dedication to her children earned her the respect of all who knew her. She was a strong role model to
her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Her legacy of hard work,
self-sacrifice, and love of laughter and family lives on in those who cherish her memory.
Peg is survived by her children Diana (Bruce) Ford and Barbara (Mark) Smith of Watertown; Brad
(Jeanita) McNulty of Blue Grass, Iowa; Mark (Theresa) McNulty of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Dawn (Ron)
Cunningham of Edina, Minn.; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bernard on September 6, 1964; and her three
sisters, Mary Thompson, Maxine Ekern, and Pauline Lansing.
She loved the Bramble Park Zoo and was a devoted supporter throughout her life. As a founding board
member of the Lake Area Zoological Society, she was instrumental in hiring the current zoo director.
This was one of her proudest accomplishments. She visited the zoo regularly with family members
young and old. Her children commemorated her 80th birthday with a granite bench at the zoo.
The family asks that memorials be directed to the Lake Area Zoological Society, PO Box 484, Watertown,
S.D. 57201.