Margaret Marie (Mathiesen) Brinda of Valentine Nebraska passed away in the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine January 8, 2025, after a short illness and complications of dementia. Margaret was born June 17, 1947, in Valentine to Harvey and Ruby (Turner) Mathiesen.  Margaret lived several places around the Norden/Springview/Ainsworth area until her family settled on the family farm west of Norden.  She attended rural schools with her brother Paul. Many special times were spent with her cousins in the Turner, Egelhoff and Mathiesen families in the Niobrara Valley. Margaret was a 1965 graduate of Keya Paha County High School in Springview, Nebraska.

Margaret married Gary Brinda February 20, 1971, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine and lived on the family farm in rural Todd County South Dakota. Margaret had many occupations throughout the years: homemaker and ranch wife, mom, housekeeper at Pineview, cook at the Littleburg school, she wrote Littleburg news for the Todd County Tribune and Midland news. She was a housekeeper at the Cherry County Hospital for 23 years. She loved working at the hospital and visiting with the staff and patients.  When she retired from the hospital, she liked to say her official job was gate opener for Gary. She was also involved with the Todd County 4-H program while her children were growing up. She spent many summers encouraging the kids to complete 4-H projects before the fair.

Margaret survived multiple cancers over the years with grit and determination with her husband and family by her side. Many road trips for doctors' appointments were filled with stops for shopping, trying new restaurants and family visits and stories about when she was growing up to pass the time.

Margaret was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic, Altar Society, Happy Hour Extension Club, American Legion and VFW Auxiliary and the Lady Bug Social Club for many years. Margaret enjoyed Bingo at the Senior Center on Monday evenings and spending time at the family ranch in Todd County, South Dakota with her family and animals, especially her dogs Ronni, Bear and Molly; riding the 4-wheeler, checking cows and gardening.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents Harvey and Ruby, infant daughter Amy and brother Paul, as well as brother-in-law James Lutter and sister-in-law Terri Brinda. Margaret is survived by husband Gary; children Jocille (Jerry Poland) of Valentine, Nichi (Jerry Fisher) of Winner, Pat (Nichole Garwood), Mike, Jay, and Grant all of Valentine, grandchildren Austin Fisher of Malvern, Ohio and Miranda Fisher of Winner, South Dakota. Additional survivors include sister-in-law Margaret Lutter of Valentine and brother-in-law Dan Brinda of Wichita, Kansas, numerous nieces and nephews and many special cousins.

Visitation will be at St. Nicholas Catholic Church Sunday, January 12 at 5:30 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. and funeral Mass Monday, January 13 at 10:30 a.m. with burial to follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine, Nebraska. Memorials can be made to the Sandhills Cancer Fund.  Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine was entrusted with the service arrangements.