Margaret Dyer, of Brooklyn, passed from this life on January 18th, 2026 at Brooklyn Community Estates. On March 28, 1924 in Holdrege, Nebraska, twin girls were born to Nicholas and Tressa McElvain. Margaret was thirty minutes younger than her sister, Mary. Through the great dust storms and depression years, Margaret grew up on a farm near Wilcox, Nebraska. She was educated in a two room country school, until she went on to attend high school in Wilcox, where she graduated in 1942.

After high school, Margaret worked in nearby Holdrege, preparing cold treats as a soda jerk, and then worked as a sales clerk at J.C. Penny & Montgomery Ward department stores.

This kept her busy during the war years, while she waited for her fiancé to return from serving in the South Pacific, where he operated a radio homing station for the Army Air Corps. Upon his return, toting a small package bought with his $100 discharge pay, he placed a ring on Margaret's hand, making the engagement official. Margaret McElvain married Daryl Dyer at her parent's home on April 14, 1946, beginning their 73 year journey.

The newlyweds set up housekeeping in Gothenburg, Nebraska, where Daryl worked as a body man for the local Ford dealership. Margaret settled in as a home maker, and was soon the mother of two children. In 1950, Daryl, Margaret and their young family transplanted to Brooklyn, Iowa where Daryl and a buddy pooled resources to purchase the Brooklyn Body Shop, located at the corner of Front and High Streets.

A few years later, they purchased the Brooklyn Motor Company, (Ford dealership), located in the same building which now houses the NAPA parts store. During that time, Margaret honed her skills at gardening, canning and cooking, while she provided for her growing family, now totalling four children. When her youngest entered kindergarten in 1962, Margaret took on the bookkeeping job for the Ford dealership. She did this faithfully until they sold the business and retired in 1985.

Margaret was an active member of Madison Church of Christ, and the church's Concerned Christian Women, for over 70 years. She taught Sunday School & VBS, sang in the choir, and on many occasions used her gifts of hospitality to bless others.

After she had raised her family, Margaret enjoyed and excelled at several hobbies. She loved to be in the kitchen, especially when she was baking. Her cinnamon rolls were a favorite of anyone who tasted them. Margaret expressed her love of beauty, through her quilting and acrylic watercolor painting.

Her quilts represented countless hours of handwork often using long cherished material, even from dresses she wore as a child. Her favorite painting themes were primitive farmsteads, rural landscapes and images from her travels. Her gifts of quilts and paintings were expressions of love which live on with her family.

Margaret is survived by three of her children, Calvin Dyer (Barb), of Lingle, Wyoming, Connie Samples (Rick) of San Jose, California, and Larry Dyer (Joni) of Ozark, Mo.

Her nine grandchildren are: Deneice Dyer, Scott Dyer, Brian Siemens, Holli Hansen, Nicole Bonecutter, Lance Dyer, Sean Samples, Eric Samples, and Matt Samples.

Her twelve great Grandchildren are: Hogan Hansen, Ana Hansen, Palmer Hansen, Nina Dixson, Kaiden Dixson, Nicco Fili, Gabrielle Fili, Riley Samples, Logan Gray, Nevaeh Samples, Theo Dyer, and Zavior Dyer

Margaret is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Daryl, Her twin sister, Mary Pearson, two brothers, Bob (Inez) and Bill (Carolyn), her daughter, Dianne Siemens and Dianne's husband, Tim of Brooklyn.

A celebration of life is scheduled for 10:30 AM, Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Madison Church of Christ. Family will greet friends at a visitation prior to the service beginning at 9:30 AM. Private burial will be held at Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Madison Church of Christ.