Margaret Ella Durst

Margaret Ella Durst, 90, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025 at Scottish Rite Park Nursing Home.

Margaret was born on August 9, 1934 in Cherokee, IA to Rudy and Ella Lembcke. Margaret grew up in Holstein, IA and attended The University of Iowa where she met her husband William "Bill" Durst of Danbury, IA. They were united in marriage on August 21, 1955 and they raised three children: Sondra "Soni", Doug, and Sara. Margaret graduated with a speech pathology degree and worked in that field for several years until transitioning into the travel industry. She began her travel career by working at TWA in Kansas City until moving to Clive, IA in 1976. Margaret then worked at ITA Group in West Des Moines for nearly 25 years. She loved to travel all over the world. She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, sewing, golfing, puzzling, water aerobics, fishing with Bill, playing Bridge with friends, and was also part of the Red Hat Society. In 2021, Margaret developed dementia and was well taken care of at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines, IA.
Margaret is survived by her three children, Sondra "Soni" Hansen of Grimes, Doug (Tricia) Durst of Shawnee, KS, and Sara (Eric) Peet of Des Moines; five grandchildren, Kirsten (Andrew) Pursifull and Katie (Brad) Rabedeaux, Devin and Jack Durst, and Makena (Todd Buffington) Peet; and great-grandchild, Olivia Rabedeaux.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Rudy and Ella Lembcke; her husband of 57 years, William "Bill" Durst; and her sisters, Ingeborg "Ing" Sherer and Anna Lorenzen.

There will be a celebration of life service on July 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines with burial following at 3:00 p.m. at Liston Township Cemetery in Danbury, IA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines, Suncrest Hospice Care or to the Alzheimer’s Association of Iowa.

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