Peg Agar, 85, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, at Browns Valley Health in Browns Valley.

Born Agnes Mary O'Neill on April 21, 1923, she was known as Peg since high school. A lifelong resident of Traverse County, Peg attended Arthur Township and Beardsley Public Schools during her early years.

The oldest daughter of John Vincent and Anna Loretta (Kenney) O'Neill, Peg assisted her mother in caring for her two aunts who had come to live with them on the O'Neill farm until going to live with her grandparents Garrett and Bridget (Brady) Kenney in Beardsley during her junior and senior years.

Following her graduation from BHS in 1941, she attended St. Cloud State College, graduating from there with a teaching certificate in 1943. It was in St. Cloud that Peg met Danny Agar from Hancock. Turning down a teaching position in New Ulm, Peg joined friends moving to Seattle, where she worked for Boeing until she and Dan were married on January 18, 1945, in Providence, R.I., during Dan's final year in the U.S. Navy.

Peg and Dan moved to Browns Valley following the end of WWII and began their family. Over the span of 14 years they would have seven sons and a daughter, purchase the restaurant on main street and the Coliseum Club on the west end.

During the 50s, 60s and 70s, they would raise their children, and Peg along with Dan was extensively involved in the life of the community actively participating in school, church and civic activities.

Peg was a long time member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, a member of the Daughters of Isabella in which she served in many capacities including Vice Regent and Regent, and a member of the Christian Mothers.

She also served as a member of the Wm. Krensing Post 58 American Legion Auxiliary since World War II, also serving as its president.

Peg was the librarian at the Carnegie Library in Browns Valley and served on the Viking Regional Library Board.

Peg also served as an election judge in Traverse County for many local and national elections, and was elected a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in New York in 1980.

In short, her life was dedicated to being of service to others. She was a member of the Progress Study Club, TOPS, and numerous other organizations. Peg and Dan enjoyed bowling on the "The Coliseum" team, playing pinochle, and socializing with friends and family.

Peg thoroughly enjoyed travel and took a trip to Ireland and France in 1971 with her Dad and sister Rose and again to Ireland in 1994 with her sons Tom and Tim, and in 2003 with sons Rich, Dannel and daughter-in-law Lynn and 20 of her extended family for a family wedding.

She would go on to Italy with her sister, Rose.

She enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise to the Panama Canal to celebrate her 80th. Birthday and visited Hawaii in 2007. She spent many recent winters in Florida.

Peg and Dan enjoyed 33 years of marriage until Dan's sudden death in May 1978.

Peg would then become licensed as a life insurance agent with New York Life, would sell monuments representing Rausch Brothers, and later took great enjoyment from playing bridge, dining out with the ‘Red Hats' and serving as a community volunteer, driving for Rainbow Rider.

In the early 80's, her dad came to live with her until he entered the Browns Valley Health Center.

She would marry Knute Hedrick on June 14, 1986. During their years together Peg and Knute traveled extensively, taking several trips around the country by motor-home visiting children, and extended family and friends around the U.S.

In 1989, Peg traveled to Medjugore in Yugoslavia, to Rome and Assisi in Italy, a trip she would fondly remember for the rest of her life.

Knute and Peg's marriage ended after 10 years although they would later reconcile their relationship.

Following her visit to Assisi and a life long devotion to Saint Francis, Peg would be inducted into the Third Order of Franciscans in October of 2007.

Peg will perhaps best be remembered for the vibrant way she lived her life.

At no time did she slow down until advancing cancer forced her to do so.

She will always be remembered as a woman of faith with a devotion to the Blessed Mother, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and for her great love of her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.

Peg is survived by sons: Dennis (Peg) Agar of Minnetonka, Richard Agar of Naples, Fla., David (Penny) Agar of Fergus Falls, Tom Agar of Monterey, Calif., Dannel (Lynn) Agar of Golden, Colo., Rev. Tim Agar of Fairfax, Va., and Brian (Janet) Agar of Eden Prairie; grandchildren: Hele (Russ) Prill, Angie (Tony) (Agar) Rubasch, Marc (Lori) Agar, Mike Agar, Dan (Julie) Agar, Chrissie (Ian) Agar, Cassie Agar, Hudson Agar, Brady Agar, Alex Agar, Dave Agar, Tammy (Troy) Agar, Stacey Agar, Shawn Agar, Kyle Agar, Briana (Nathan) (Agar) Johnson, Chris LePage, Courtney Agar, Rachel Flynn; great-grandchildren: Alissa and Ashley Rubasch, Madelyn Bauer, Oliver Agar, Jordan Prill, Nicholas and Alexander Johannes, Skylar, McKenna and Hayden Prill, Benjamin Johnson, and Elek Agar-Baggett; brother Phillip (Vivian) O'Neill of Beardsley, MN, sisters: Rose (John) Perra of Zumbrota and Helen (Ken) Swanson of Edina; sisters-in-law: Delores Rose of Hancock, Ms. Jean O'Neill of Beardsley, and Donna Agar of Casper, Wyo.; close friend Knute Hedrick; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

Peg was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dan; daughter, Kathleen Louise Agar; siblings: Patrick O'Neill, Eugene O'Neill, and Clair Herber; sister-in-law, Patty O'Neill; and brothers-in-law: Clarence Rose and James Agar.

Visitation: Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church with a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., resuming two hours prior to the service

Service: 11 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Browns Valley

Clergy: Father Joseph Vandeberg and Father William J. Kenney

Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Browns Valley

Funeral Home: Larson Funeral Home, Ortonville