Margaret Dorothy Nygaard, 89, of Austin, Minnesota, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin.

Margaret was born March 22, 1927, at Rochester, Minnesota, the daughter of Fredrick and Alma (Grutzmacher) Podolske. She graduated from high school in Rochester and married Truman E. Nygaard on July 30, 1950, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester.

The Nygaards made their home in Austin where Margaret was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Truman and Margaret were avid square dancers and members of the G-Sharps and Plus of Rochester and the Austin Promenader’s square dance clubs.

Margaret was a very social person and enjoyed spending time with friends. She was a member of a women’s card club and of TOPS. Margaret enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Arizona, and time spent at the family lake home at Waterville. She loved her granddaughters and traveled to most of their sporting events and activities while they were growing up. She loved to play games and cards with her great-grandsons, still being competitive enough to want to win. Family gatherings were always a highlight and something she looked forward to.

Margaret is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Jody Nygaard, Albert Lea, Minnesota; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Roy Loberg, Fridley, Minnesota; granddaughters, Dr. Amy and Derek Maas, Woodbury, Minnesota, and Alyssa Nygaard, Woodbury; great-grandsons, Gavin and Parker; brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Julie Podolske, Rochester; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Celeste Podolske, Alexandria, Minnesota, LaDonna Nygaard, Austin, and Bev and Russ Jacobson, Plum City, Wisconsin; special friend, John Schammel, Austin; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Truman E. Nygaard; and brothers, Dick, Harry and Don Podolske.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Todd Portinga, AiM officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery.  Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Saturday.

Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.