Funeral Services For Margaret Schellpeper

Margaret Caroline (Sjoblom)  Schellpeper was born April 4, 1918 to Fritz and Emma (Asplin) Sjoblom in the Bega neighborhood of Stanton County Nebraska.  She left this life on Thursday July 30, 2020 at Heritage of Bel Air in Norfolk.

She was raised along with her younger sister Thelma on a typical family farm from that era.  She attended school at Bega and finished high school at Stanton Community Schools.  She graduated in 1935.  Margaret attended college in Lincoln and Omaha for about one year.  She returned to Stanton and was employed by the USDA AAA office, after her college aspirations were cut short due to an economic setback experienced by her parents.  A lightning storm claimed the lives of most of their dairy herd.   

Margaret, quiet and reserved was wooed by the more social Fred Schellpeper and they married on June 14, 1941 at Madison, Nebraska.  Fred was employed at the Stanton Printing Company (published the local paper) at that time.  Eventually they were able to start a diversified farming enterprise in Northern Stanton County, with the help of Fritz and Emma.  The core of the business was to purchase the Asplin Family Homestead farm, part of Margaret’s legacy.

Margaret and Fred raised a family.  Three children were born to the marriage:  Margo, Carole and Fred Jr.

Margaret and Fred lived on their farm until 2002, when they finally fully retired and moved to Norfolk.  Fred passed in April 2004, and Margaret lived in their home until late 2015.  She then moved to Heritage of Belair until she joined her parents, sister and husband.

This synopsis does not begin to describe the kind of person Margaret was and still is in the hearts of her family.  Her quiet and steady influence will live on in those that she touched and all will miss her constant presence.  The gifts she bestowed were earned and went deep in those that were blessed with her countenance.

Her grandparents, Oliver and Margaret Asplin, immigrated to this country in the mid to late 1800’s.  From that legacy, which includes the land they claimed and improved, and still remains in the family’s care, a quiet determination was born. 

Intelligence and hard work were it’s byproducts.  In addition to Margaret and her sister Thelma being integral in successful agricultural enterprises locally an example of the family’s ability is expressed by one of their first cousin’s exploits in California.  The cousin graduated first in his law school class at Cal-Berkeley and went on to a distinguished legal career.

Margaret had a strong religious faith that carried her through good and bad times.  She believed in the fruits of the Christian philosophy and the discipline and ultimate reward that comes with it.

Margaret was a member and past president of the DF Chapter of PEO.

Margaret Caroline (Sjoblom) Schellpeper was preceded in death by her husband Fred, parents Fritz and Emma and sister Thelma (Sjoblom) Barr.  She is survived by her children, Margo Marsh of Blair; Carole and husband Ward Curry of Lincoln;  Fred Schellpeper Jr and wife Sandy of Norfolk; 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
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​In lieu of flowers…charitable donations to Stanton Public Library or Stanton Public Schools Foundation….