Mercedes T. Pistole

Mercedes Pistole was the fourth child of the Thelen family of seven children. She was born on the prairie of Howard, South Dakota, in 1927. She passed away peacefully on the morning of March 7, 2022, in Vero Beach, Florida, where she had lived since 1996. Prior to moving to Vero Beach, she lived in Miami and Coral Gables for 30 years. She was the widow of Charles W. Pistole (Chuck) to whom she was married for more than 57 years. Together they traveled around the world. She had a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami where she taught nursing. She continued her independent studies in medicine at Yale University and John Hopkins. Her community activities were many, including the opera, McKee Gardens, and the Vero Beach Literary Society. She was a talented bridge player with master points, a seamstress of elegant evening gowns, an elegant ballroom dancer and a gifted ceramic painter. One of her last positions was as the officiate of her grandson’s wedding at 93 years of age.

Mercedes (Terri to many) is survived by two children: Valerie Pistole Walter and her husband Jeffrey of Sonoma County, California, and Mark Charles Pistole and his wife Dana of Stuart, Florida; her sister, Barbara Peschong of North Dakota, and three grandchildren: Morgan Leigh Pistole of Los Angeles, CA; Collin Pistole Walter of San Rafael, CA; and Nathan Pistole Walter of Irvine, CA.

In lieu of flowers, Mercedes and the family request donations to the St. Joseph Indian School, P. O. Box 326, Chamberlain, South Dakota 57326.