Irene R. Merkel, formerly of Piedmont, passed away on Monday, March 29, 2021, at St. Martins Assisted Living Center. She was born on June 11, 1926, to John and Bertha (Hayes) Brady in Winnett, MT.

The family (sisters, Mrytle Thune, Mable Nelson; brothers, Charles, Calvin, and Alvin) moved to Crookston, MN, in March of 1933. Irene attended high school in Thief River Falls, MN, for 3 years and graduated in New Folden, MN. Irene then moved to Minneapolis graduating from Brady Beauty College (became a beautician so she "could do her own hair"). She practiced as a beautician for four years.

Returning to Thief River Falls, Irene married James L. Nelson in 1948. They moved to Culver City, CA., where Irene attended business college in Long Beach. She worked for Collins Engineering in Culver City, CA., for one year before moving to Seattle, WA. There Irene worked for 25 years for Unigard Insurance Group as the secretary to the General Counsel of the company.

On February 14, 1968, she married the love of her life, Herbert L. Merkel, in Carson City, NV. The two met when Irene had car trouble and visited Herb's service station. During their courtship, Herb was shot in a robbery (1965) at the station; Irene visited him in the hospital and during his recovery.

The couple's first home was in Redmond, WA. Herb continued to run the service station in Kirkland, WA, until 1978. They then purchased the franchised Hallmark Card stores in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska.

The next adventure was to move to Bismark, ND, in 1987. They then moved to Rapid City in 1993 and relocated to Piedmont in 1995. Irene remained in the home in Piedmont following Herb's death on December 26, 2016. She then moved to the Good Samaritan Assisted Living Center at St. Martins in December 2019.

Irene is survived by step-son, Kurt (Catherine) Merkel, St. Louis, MO; step-grandsons, Tom, Tim, and Tyler Merkel; numerous nieces and nephews (including Jason & wife, Connie Bertolotto) along with dear friends, Tim Navarre, Kenai, AK; and Nancy Worth, Piedmont, SD.

Irene is proceeded in death by her parents; brothers; sisters; husband, Herbert, and great-nephew, Cole Bertolotto.

Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 11, 2021, at Piedmont Valley American Legion #311 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Burial with Herb will be held at a later date at McIntosh, SD cemetery.