Margaret (Peg) Kessinger, 98, of Walshville passed away peacefully, August 2, 2024, at her home, with her daughter at her side.
Peg was born in Hazelton, North Dakota, on October 24, 1925, to Wilbur Hewitt Nelson and Sylvia (Loux) Nelson Gilbert. She was raised by her mother and stepdad A.P (Putt) Gilbert. After moving from Montana to Illinois, in 1938, Peg attended the Irving country school (Sunnyside), the 3-year high school in Irving, and graduated with the Hillsboro High School class of 1944.
After graduation, Peg received her emergency teaching certificate during WWII and taught 2 years at Root school (covering parts of Walshville, Panama and Sorento) and 1 year at Pleasant Hill school (located between Irving and Witt).
Peg taught herself how to play the piano by ear. In the early 60's she began playing for dances in an old country school house (the Dragon's Nest) near Hillsboro. Later, she entertained at a number of nursing homes around the county. For several years she played t

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