View Marie's Memorial Folder

Saxon Marie Rice Preston, 90, of Redfield, SD, passed away March 20, 2016 at the Eastern Star Home, Redfield. Her funeral will be Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Eastern Star Home Chapel. Reverend Marty Toepke-Floyd will officiate. After a time for fellowship and lunch, the burial will be in the Rockham Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 3-5:00 p.m. at the Eastern Star Home Chapel. The family will be present during this time to accept condolences. www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com


S. Marie Preston was born on March 26, 1925 to Samuel Whipple Rice and Clara Anna (Sohrt) Rice on the family farm about four miles north of Rockham, SD. She was fourth in a strip of 10 children and her childhood years were spent on the farm. She attended country school and high school in Rockham. After earning her teaching credential at Northern Normal (now Northern State University) in Aberdeen, she taught country school for about three years. She always spoke fondly of her students.

She married Forrest Maurice Preston on November 9, 1947. They lived and farmed northwest of Zell, SD, retiring from farming in 1980. Marie especially enjoyed square dancing and they travelled extensively as they visited with friends and danced. Square dancing drew them as far as southern Texas during the winters for about 35 years. An accomplished seamstress, she sewed many of her square dance dresses and crinolines. They also traveled the other direction; Marie thought Alaska was beautiful country, and they drove there three times and visited once on a cruise.

Marie loved life on the farm, walking down the long driveway, watching and listening to the killdeer, meadow larks, redwing black birds, and seeing an occasional fox or deer. While her children were growing up, she had a large vegetable garden which provided seasonal fresh foods and treats in the winter. She was nearly always working, cooking meals, taking afternoon lunches to the fields, going to town for parts to repair machinery, and making certain the home was clean and tidy.

Family was important to her and she was very happy when surrounded by immediate and extended family. She loved playing pinochle and dominoes and taught her children and grandchildren to play.

Marie was Christian and her faith was important to her. She used the principles of Christianity, as she understood them, to guide her life.

She is survived by her son: Micheal Dean Preston (Chris) of Booklyn Park, MN, and daughters: Janita Rae Smith (Bill) of Wauconda, IL and Twila Lea Preston of Lenexa, KS; ten grandchildren: Carly Preston, Laura Preston, Jordan Smith, Leslie Thorngate, Kinsey Quernemoen, Heather Whitler, Kirk McClellan, Stephan Smith, Rebecca Smith, and Merritt Lawson; eight great grandchildren; sister Barbara (Roger) Appel of rural Redfield and brother Warren Rice of Mitchell, and a sister-in-law Cleone Rice of Rockham.

She was preceded in death by her husband, and seven siblings: Donald, David, Mildred (Hull), Norman, Richard, Philip, John, and two grandchildren (Jamie and Allison Smith)

Wednesday, March 23, 2016
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Eastern Star Home Chapel
126 West 12th Ave
Redfield, SD 57469

Thursday, March 24, 2016
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Eastern Star Home Chapel
126 West 12th Ave
Redfield, SD 57469