Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16, at the First Baptist Church in Winner. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday, February 15 from 4-8 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner.

Merle Margaret Meyer Jorgensen was born July 26, 1916, in Wright Township in rural Tripp County. She was the second of four children born to Grover and Anna May (Dunten) Meyer, joining her older brother Otis and followed by her younger brothers Lloyd and Norman. Merle attended elementary classes at Longview School.
Upon graduating from Winner High School, Merle began teaching at various country grade schools in Tripp and Todd County. She later worked for Singer Sewing Machine Company in Sioux Falls, SD and a watch repair shop in Lincoln, NE before marrying Chester Jorgensen on June 30, 1951, at Star Prairie Baptist Church near Clearfield, SD. Chester and Merle purchased a farm west of Clearfield where their two sons Paul and Terry and their daughter Janice were raised. Merle returned to teaching after getting married and attended Southern State Normal School at Springfield, SD in the summers to complete her teacher’s degree.
Merle enjoyed crossword puzzles, quilting, reading books, music, and discovering her family tree through much genealogical research. She especially enjoyed the game of Scrabble.
Merle went to be with her Lord on the morning of February 12, 2010, at the age of 93.
Merle leaves to mourn her husband Chester of Winner, sons Paul (Rhonda) Jorgensen of Winner, Terry (Mary Carroll) Jorgensen of Fairfield, NE, daughter Janice (Bernard) Born of Minneapolis, MN, five grandchildren Lonnie (Nikki) Jorgensen of Lincoln, NE, Kendra Jorgensen of Winner, SD, Heather (Doran) Hamburger of Seneca, SD, Hannah and Justin Jorgensen of Fairfield, NE, and three great grandchildren. Merle also leaves twenty nieces and nephews, and one brother Norman Meyer of Winner, SD.
Merle was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Otis and Lloyd, four sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law.