Peggy (Peg) Pearl Walgren was born February 8, 1929, to Charles and Pearl Riley in Hay Springs, Nebraska. She passed away from this life on February 25, 2022 at the Chadron Community Hospital at the age of 93, surrounded by her loving family.
Peg attended school in Hay Springs, graduating in 1946. She attended Colorado Woman’s College (CWC) in Denver, Colorado for two years and the University of Colorado in Boulder for two years. In 1950, Peg returned home to help run the C.L Riley family store while her mother recuperated from surgery. She then taught rural schools for 3 years; in the Wayne Walgren District, the Ashmore District and the Doon Hunter District.
Peg married Delmer Walgren on March 16, 1952 in the Methodist Church in Hay Springs. In 1954 Delmer quit farming and both he and Peg worked in the Riley store, eventually assuming ownership. They remodeled and closed out the clothing and dry goods and operated a Jack and Jill grocery store until 1965. They then purchased a 7-UP distributorship with Delmer running the pop truck up and down highway 20 and Peg doing the bookkeeping. When the distributorship was sold. Peg was selected as the inaugural Director of the new Sheridan County Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) where she continued to work for the next 19 years.
While Peg worked her entire life, she loved her fun time. She played softball in her early years and enjoyed bowling both in Hay Springs and neighboring towns. Her passion, however, was camping, boating and fishing with her family and friends, known as the Lake Crew. She spent over five decades on the shores of Angostora, days filled with endless hours of card playing and fishing, and evenings full of laughter around the campfire. Peg never wanted to miss out on anything and was always the one to help douse the fire at the end of an evening.
She was known for her fondness of cards, board games, puzzles and reading. But her passion ran the deepest for bridge, belonging to multiple clubs all her life. She was especially careful about her hair and had a standing weekly appointment at the beauty shop, making sure to keep up on local happenings. She was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church, belonged to the Legion Auxiliary, and was active with PEO for nearly seven decades.
Peg loved her family and all things family related. She planned all year for the Walgren Family reunion and looked forward to seeing and catching up with everyone. She kept the list for decades and knew exactly whose turn it was to host! She was a proud mother who traveled miles and miles around the Panhandle with Delmer to watch her kids play sports and never missed a school event. And she thoroughly enjoyed trips to Lincoln with friends to see her beloved Cornhuskers play.
In her retirement years, Peg traveled with Delmer to various places around the country, including Alaska, Branson, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Salmon fishing in Washington state, and Texas. Arches National Park, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Palm Springs. But most of all, she got enjoyment spending time with her children and grandchildren. All who knew her appreciated her humor and sharp wit and made many memories with her. Her children’s friends all had a healthy respect for this spunky lady! She loved to sing “On the Road Again” when she was in the car and is now on her final road trip. Vaya Con Dios, Peg, you are loved and will be forever with us.
Peg was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Pearl Riley, husband Delmer, and son Greg. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Annette Langford of Hay Springs, daughter Kim Walgren (Jay Bogner) of
Buffalo, Wyoming; son Brad Walgren of Laramie, Wyoming; grandchildren Sarah (Adam) England of Fort Collins, Colorado; Bradley and Annie Walgren of Laramie, Wyoming; Sarah Oertel (Brandon) of Gold Hill, Oregon; and KatiRose Callison (Paul) of Seattle, Washinigton. She also has many surviving nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at the Hay Springs Methodist Church on Saturday, March 5th at 10:00 a.m., with graveside burial at the Hay Springs cemetery. Lunch will be served at the church following graveside services. All are welcome to attend and share their favorite stories of Peg, a unique and much-loved soul.
A memorial has been established and donations for the Hay Springs Volunteer Ambulance and the Hays Springs Methodist Church may be sent in care of Chamberlain Drabbels Mortuary, PO Box 440, Hay Springs, NE 69347.