Madalen Taggart

Madalen A. Taggart, 85, of Vermillion, SD passed away at The Sanford Vermillion Care Center after enduring many years with Dementia.

 Madalen was born on December 6th, 1938, to Everett & Lauretta (Elbert) Leonard in Rodman, Iowa. She graduated from Emmetsburg Catholic High School in 1956 and from St Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in 1958. She married Terence ‘Terry’ Taggart on July 28, 1962, in Sioux City, Iowa. 

 Madalen worked as an orthopedic nurse for several years in Sioux City; before she and Terry moved full time to their home along the Missouri River in Vermillion in 1976. They were owners of Whimps and then Bunyans until they retired in 2007. 

 Madalen was an avid reader who enjoyed a good mystery; she had an excellent green thumb as reflected by her beautiful house plants, flower and vegetable gardens. She enjoyed canning – even more so when her children helped. She loved boating on the river, music (Elvis), bingo and card club with her friends, games of chance, crossword puzzles, trivia (Jeopardy), board and card games - Scrabble, Yahtzee, and Pinocle were her favorites. She was known to have quite the sweet tooth, a very competitive spirit, and quick wit.

 Madalen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Donald Leonard, her sister & brother-in-law Charlene & Orvin Nash, sister-in-law Mary (Tom) Leonard, and a nephew Phillip Leonard.

 She is survived by her son: Thomas (Sarah) Taggart their children: Travis (Gabi), Sophia, Anneliese, & Elaina Taggart; their grandchildren: Addison & Paityn Taggart. Her son: Timothy (Becky Anglin) Taggart and their children: Taryn Taggart; Jeff (Sidney) Anglin, Kyle Pickett & Mason (Karley) Pickett; their grandchildren: Willow & Hudson Anglin. Her daughter: Tara Taggart. Her brothers and sisters-in-law: John (Patricia) Leonard, George (Mary) Leonard, Joe (Kathy) Leonard; and her brother Tom Leonard.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5915 S. Remington Pl. Suite 110, Sioux Falls, SD 57108 or alz.org/sd.