Megan Marie Hess

MEGAN MARIE BUCHER HESS was born to Marda Walkup Young and Lyle Donald Bucher on March 14, 1945 in Pipestone, Minnesota. She grew up on the family farm south of Pipestone and received her education first at Rural District #25 and then went into Pipestone School as a fifth grader. She graduated from PHS in 1963. While in high school, she was a part of the declam and speech team and got to perform at the state level competitions. During high school, Megan played Minnehaha in the Song of Hiawatha Pageant for many years and was also a lifeguard at the pool in Pipestone. She was president of her senior class and was involved in many activities during her high school years. As a senior, she was up for homecoming royalty. She was an active member of 4-H and showed dairy cattle and baking and sewing at the State level several times. She was a member of Job’s Daughters which was a women’s auxiliary of the Masonic Temple Society.

She spent her freshman year in college at Morningside College and transferred to Mankato State College as a sophomore. During her junior year of college, she and Curt had decided to get married and both transferred to Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa. Megan and Curt Hess were married at Peace United Methodist Church on April 2, 1966. They went on to graduate from Westmar as teachers. She taught one year in George, Iowa and enjoyed coaching beginning gymnastics, dance, and drill team. Then the young couple moved to Bloomfield, Iowa. While living there, Megan mentored and tutored young expectant mothers and Curt taught and coached from 1968 until spring of 1970. Carl Brooks was born November 9, 1968 in Bloomfield. They moved back to Pipestone in 1970 and embarked on a career as farmers. She did some substitute teaching but mainly devoted herself to raising her family and being a helpmate on the farm. On January 8, 1972, Angela Faye was born in Pipestone. Curt and Megan purchased the farm of her uncle, Arly and aunt, Vi Bucher in 1973, and have lived there since. After her children were in school, she helped her father, Lyle, in his real estate and insurance business for many years.
Megan was a very skilled artist and painted on canvas and then became an excellent china painter. She at one time was doing pressed flowers and created cards from them. China painting and pressing flowers was a lost art of the late 1800s. After losing her son, Carl, in an automobile accident in 1995, all of the thank yous were written on her cards.

She was involved in Christian Womens’ Club and Aquarius Club, taught Sunday School, and attended many Bible studies over the years with womens’ groups and couples’ groups. She was also a 4-H Leader while her children participated in it. For many years the couple was a part of a 500 card group and enjoyed that immensely.

Megan’s health declined after Carl’s death and on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, after spending a few weeks at the Pipestone Hospice House, left this earthly realm in the presence of her immediate family. She has entered her heavenly realm and is in Jesus’ arms. She has joined her son and other family members and is waiting there now for the rest of us to join her. She was 26 days short of her 71st birthday and 45 days short of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Curt of Pipestone; her daughter, Angela Hess (boyfriend, Nate Buysman of Sibley, Iowa) of Pipestone; two grandsons, Chane Amdahl of Canyon, Texas and Chandler Hess Kor of Pipestone; her sister, Rebecca; and her very special family, Curt’s brother and sisters, Myrna and George Huisken of Camarillo, California, Marlys and Lyle Buddenhagen of Tracy, Minnesota, Bonnie and Jack Bucher of Pipestone, Joyce Ripley of Omaha, Nebraska, Duane and Janelle Hess (who was her “sister by heart”) of Pipestone and their respective families who are serving as honorary pallbearers; the Bucher boys who are serving in honor as her pallbearers; and her very special friends, Sara Heard, Shirley Sandberg, Ruth Sorenson and Judy Brinkmeyer.

She was preceded in death by her son, Carl; her parents, Lyle and Marda Bucher; her parents-in-law, Wayne and Emma Hess; and her brothers, Donnie and Jay Bucher.