Marjorie Anne Dexheimer was born in Louisville, KY, on March 23, 1944, to Karl and Edythe Dexheimer, Marjorie grew up in Faith, SD, with her sister Karen and graduated from Faith High School in 1962. During high school she accepted God’s gift of salvation through Christ and made a commitment to follow Him.
After attending college in Arizona, she returned to Faith. While working at a Bible camp in the Black Hills during the summer of 1963, she met Jim Letellier and they were married on July 12, 1964. They made their home in Norris, where she began to put down roots that grew deep over the next 56 years.
She and Jim had four daughters over the first seven years of their marriage. She learned the life of a ranch wife: serving meals graciously without a set schedule, baking and cleaning daily, welcoming cold critters into the house to warm them, canning and freezing garden goods, and creating a home where her family could flourish.
Marjorie Anne had a heart for the Lord, and she served Him by teaching Sunday School and VBS at the Norris Bible Church, providing scholarships for area young people to attend Victory Center Bible Camp, and relentlessly modeling a life of generosity and sacrificial giving.
She was involved for several years as an Extension Club member and a 4-H leader, investing in her community and its young people. She served as the Norris Township Treasurer and maintained the Township Hall for 37 years. For twenty years, she gathered “news” from the community of Norris and published it in several local papers. She loved to write about the people who made Norris home to her. In her last column on March 25, 2020, she said goodbye to her readers, saying “You made me very proud to tell the world about you.”
Her eight grandchildren brought her great delight. She loved to celebrate their accomplishments. Holidays, birthdays, and annual school shopping trips gave her excuses to lavish her love and generosity on them.
She loved cheering for her grandkids (and she considered many area young people her grandkids) in athletics from T-ball to the collegiate level. She was a devoted fan of the Sunshine Bible Academy sports teams, especially track, and bragged on her Norris kids who played on the White River Tigers’ teams.
She used her love for writing to bless others through her longstanding tradition of writing “memory letters” to families who had lost loved ones, and her homemade treats regularly brought over 100 trick-or-treaters to her door. She blessed the lives of many people who will continue to reap the rewards of her faithfulness to her Savior, to her family, and her community.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband Jim of Norris; daughters, LuAnne (Paul) Beckwith of Pierre, Sue (Marty) Larson of Rapid City, Julie Letellier of Kilgore, JaLynn (Jason) Burma of Norris; grandchildren, Erica (Justin) Hunt, Andrea (Rob) Logterman, DJ Beckwith (fiancée Shelby Raper), and Cassie Beckwith, Jace, Jade, Jakki, and Jimmy Burma; one great-grandchild, Ryder; sister, Karen (Gary) Price of Maurine, South Dakota, and a host of relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Edythe (Jensen) Dexheimer.
Due to poor cellphone service at the Norris Cemetery the live streaming today would not work. We did however record the service with our camcorder and will post the graveside service in place of the live video this evening. Sorry for the inconvenience.
A come and go viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, May 6, at the Norris Bible Church in Norris.
Graveside services will be held 3:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday, May 6, at the Norris Cemetery in Norris.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Sunshine Bible Academy.
Cards and memorials can be sent to:
P.O. Box 42
Norris, SD 57560
Guest Book
NE - Nebraska
~ Danny and Kelsie Myers
Creighton (5/6/2020)
Prayers for all of you she was a very beautiful person inside and out out little town will never forget what she did for all of us hugs to you all
~ Marla Ferguson
Norris (5/7/2020)
Jim and Family, Sending our sympathy and prayers during these difficult times. Cousin Marjorie was very special to all of us. She will be missed. Sorry we can't make it back to SD for the services.
~ David & Amber Jensen
WhisperingPines, NC (5/4/2020)
Marjorie has gone on to a better place. We all will miss her smiling face. Sympathy for all the family.
~ Sherry and Larry Van Zee
Miller, SD (5/4/2020)
Marjorie was the most kind and gentle person that I have ever known, a warm and pure soul. She resides in joy with the Father.
~ Jim and Kathy Jensen
Boise, ID (5/6/2020)
A wonderful lady has left this earth. She brightened the world with her cheerfulness and love! Praying for her family and sending our love
~ Gene and Jo Christensen
Kadoka (5/2/2020)
Sending our love and sympathy at this time. "Aunt" Margie was a special person in my life and to our family. She will be so very missed. Wish we could be there in person on Wednesday, but we will be with you in thoughts and prayers.
~ Delane Ingalls Vanada
Monument, CO (5/2/2020)
Jim and girls we are so sorry for your loss but we also know that God a great reunion before to long, We look forward to that day when we see that beautiful smile once again. May God keep you wrapped in his loving arms.
~ Ron and Marva Letellier
Sturgis, SD (5/6/2020)
Jim and Family, I wish mere words could express the sorrow we feel for you and the rest of her family for all of us having lost the first J. P. Jensen grandchild and of course my very first cousin. I am most thankful for enjoying the visit this past summer, the memories of which will be with Jenny and I forever. Of course, we can all rest assured she is in a far better place, and home with our Lord. May God Bless!
~ John R. Jensen
Lipan, Texas (5/4/2020)
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear mother. I did not know her, but her faithfulness to the Lord shows in her legacy of Godly children and grandchildren. I pray for peace in her passing and joy in knowing you will be reunited.
~ Angela McKeehan
Kadoka (5/3/2020)
What a precious gift God gave this world when he sent Marjorie to earth!! She has loved, encouraged and blessed so many. Jesus shined brightly through her! We will get to see her again ! I am so sorry to you all her family that she left behind! I love you all so much!
~ Sandi Bauman Stephenson
Veteran, Wyoming (5/2/2020)
James, girls and families, my heart and prayers are with you all. MarjieAnn was a wonderful person with a heart of gold old and a smile that never ended. She truly will be missed.
~ Dixie Huber
Kadoka (5/2/2020)
What a sad day - Marjorie Ann was one of a kind lady- she always had the biggest smile and she always had a hug for me no matter where she saw me. I pray the Lord wraps his arms around all of you at this time and gives you comfort. With the Covid 19 I regret I am not taking the chance of coming to the funeral - as badly as I want to.
~ Carol Waack Peterson
Pierre (5/4/2020)
Jim, so sorry to hear of your loss. Sending love, sympathy and prayers
~ Tony and Janice Florio
Oak Island, NC 28465 (5/3/2020)
Sending my love and prayers to you for the loss of your mom. I have the greatest memories of coming to your house and spending the weekend with all of you. Memories I will never forget...the great times of SBA. I remember the laugh and smile of your mother. She was so giving and always made me feel welcome. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of her life and all of you the family.
~ Karla Waltner (Deckert)
Tea, SD (5/18/2020)
Oh, how I would love to be there to celebrate Marjorie Ann's life. I have so many memories of her...her ever-present smile, ready laugh with eyes that sparkled. She was an encourager to me when I was a young mother. She loved her family and her Lord, and was always a servant. I can't wait to see her again! Praying for you, her family, as you grieve her passing on to heaven. Love to the Letellier family. Dean and Sue
~ Susan Bauman Smith
Hampton, Iowa (5/1/2020)
I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Marjorie. I have so many happy memories of spending time at their house growing up with the girls. My condolences as you celebrate her life.
~ Rachel Ring
Dallas, TX (5/2/2020)
We met Marjorie and Jim when placing stone on my sister Carol's grave. They treated us like family (truly believers in Christ) Earth's loss is heaven's gain! Rest in His arms Ms Marjorie
~ Teresa (Solaas) Britton
Green River, Wy (12/9/2020)
Margie Ann was truly a one of a kind very sweet lady. She will be missed by all who ever knew her. Sending thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace to James and the girls and families. I will be watching the service from my home.
~ Mary Jane Lolley
WHite River (5/2/2020)
Sending my love and prayers to you for the loss of your mom. I have the greatest memories of coming to your house and spending the weekend with all of you. Memories I will never forget...the great times of SBA. I remember the laugh and smile of your mother. She was so giving and always made me feel welcome. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of her life and all of you the family.
~ Karla Waltner (Deckert)
Tea, SD (5/6/2020)
Jim and family, I am so sorry for your lost! Marjorie was an incredible person. She always made me feel welcome and accepted when I came to visit. She displayed a level of hospitality that was only a dream for most of us. Her love for God was visible in all she did. She will be missed. Praying for God comfort for you in the upcoming days.
~ Kerry Pickard
Brookings, SD (5/4/2020)
My heart goes out to him and the families, she would brighten up a room, loved her community and family tirelessly. She will be truly missed.
~ Cheryl Bartlett
Tea (5/2/2020)
What a beautiful lady and how she will be missed. Marjorie made Ed and I feel welcomed in Norris when we lived there. She always stopped and talked to us and had such a beautiful smile. We occasionally seen her and Jim after we moved to White River but was always special to see them at the store or at a basketball game. Our sincere sympathy and condolences to Jim and the family.
~ Ed and Susan Krogman
White River, SD (5/10/2020)