Marcella Ann (Wagner) Forde was born October 30, 1929, in Deadwood, SD, to Harold and Violet (Randall) Wagner.

She worked as a waitress in her early years at the old Wagner Hotel; one could assume she had to have a bit of feistiness in her, considering the cliental in the old west days.

Marcella had a strong, life-long catholic faith. She attended St. Martin's Academy for most of her school years, up until graduation. She married Cevelian "Civie" Forde October 19, 1947, and moved to Newell, where they built their life-long legacies and lived out their lives, until the death of her husband in 2005. Marcella "Marcie" moved to Denver, CO, in 2010 to be closer to her surviving four sons; David, Clarence, Terry, and Paul, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Over the years, many, many stories could be told about Marcella. She attended church regularly at St. Mary's, was a member of the Altar Society, organist in the choir for many years, and taught catechism. Three times a day, she would break out her prayer book and rosary. When she came to visit, someone had to take her to church, no matter what. There was no excuse for missing mass. In her older years when she was unable to get out, you could bet she would find a channel on the TV to watch mass.

She loved the outdoors. Many days were spent camping and fishing at the local lakes, dams, and her favorite place, Missouri River, although, the Halibut she caught in Alaska was pretty high up on her list.

She loved playing cards, pinochle was her favorite, but it really didn't matter to her. She enjoyed the company and her excuse for making popcorn. When the kids returned home, that's the first thing we looked for after an eight hour drive.

Her first love though was her family. No matter what, she always had time. Whether it was consoling you after putting the family car in the canal, or bending a wheel on the road you weren't supposed to be on.

Marcella had many heart breaks in her life also. She cared for her husband through bouts with cancer, at his side until the end. Being at her mother's bedside so she wouldn't be alone, uprooting herself to care for one of her sons, who died of cancer at the age of 49, and her brother, whom she moved into her home to care for him until his final days. I did not hear her complain one single time.

Marcella, 86, died at the Colorado Acute Long Term Hospital in Denver, CO, on March 28, 2016.

Marcella is survived by her sons, David (Jackie), Denver, CO, Terry (Loree) Brighton, CO, and Paul (Kyong), Westminster, CO; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild born 5 days after her death.

She had one brother, Harold Wagner, Jr., and one daughter, Diane, who died several hours after child birth who preceded her in death. She wanted as many granddaughters as she could get to try to make up the void that Diane had left. Her son, Clarence, died of cancer at the age of 49.

I don't know if her brother is still looking for the other end of the horse sticking out of the wall in Deadwood, or if I'll ever know the stories of Strawberry Hill, or get the image out of my head walking in the house with her standing on the chair with a football helmet on her head and a broom in her hand to get that bat out of the house. We do know that we will never forget our mother.

Rosary will be Wednesday at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newell, SD, at 7:00 p.m.

Memorial services will be Thursday, April 7, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newell with Father Mark Horn officiating. Inurnment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

Memorials have been established to Make a Wish and St. Mary's Star of The Sea Catholic Church.

Click on link to view service folder