Margaret (Peg) Dean Ask, 97

Margaret (Peg) Dean Ask, 97, passed away Dec. 20, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colo., on what would have been her 73rd wedding anniversary.

She was born Margaret Ann Dean on Aug. 29, 1926, in Rahway, N.J., to Dion Kanouse and Margaret (Brearley) Dean. She was a 1948 graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts, where she was a member of the synchronized swimming team. After graduation, she pursued a career as a physical education teacher, which took her to schools in New York and Montana.

While at the University of Montana, she met Thomas Ask, of Vananda, Mont., whom she would marry in Rahway, N.J., on Dec. 20, 1950. Together, they moved to Roundup and raised four children.

Peg enjoyed horseback riding, golfing, watercolor painting and swimming, and even became a volunteer EMT.

When it was time to retire, Tom and Peg moved to Flathead Lake in Polson, where they were active members in church and enjoyed hosting many friends, family, and especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the years. 

Peg was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, her parents, her brother, Robert Dean, and sister, Ruth Dean Herrick, and nephew John Dean.

She is survived by her four children, Catherine Hasskamp (Charles), Thomas Ask (Peggy), Richard Ask (Tanya), and Carolyn Rohrer (Steven); 10 grandchildren, Rebecca Thompson (Evan), Josh Hasskamp (Jenna), Adam Hasskamp, Kim Leiser (Jake), Kate Moffet (Ryan), James Ask (Mary Jane), Ben Ask (Aimee), Signe Ask (Dana Driggs), Megan Johnson (Kellan) and Molly Rohrer; and 18 great-grandchildren, Mason and Tanner Leiser, Ali and Regan Moffet, Elizabeth, James and Isabelle Ask, Caleb, Liam and Clara Ask, Brearley and Torstein Driggs, Garet, Drue and Larsen Thompson, and Gracen, Colton and Hayden Hasskamp.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew’s Church in Polson on Monday, July 8, 2024. Memorials may be sent to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 110 6th Avenue East, Polson, MT 59860 or for research at Americancancer.org.