Muriel Nass

Muriel Ann (Pfister) Nass, 87, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2026. Muriel was born on June 8, 1939, at Peabody Hospital in Webster, S.D., to Dr. Faris Pfister and Mrs. Jessie Pfister. A lifelong South Dakotan at heart, Muriel carried with her the warmth, friendliness and humor that would come to define her life.

Muriel attended Webster High School, during which time she was crowned Queen of Webster’s Diamond Jubilee. She graduated in 1957 and went on to attend the University of South Dakota, earning her teaching degree in 1959. While at USD, Muriel was an active member of Chi Omega sorority and was named Miss Vanity Fair.

Shortly after graduation, Muriel married and moved with her husband to California, where their first child, Blake, was born. Their daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1963. The family eventually returned to South Dakota, living in Brookings for several years before settling in Sioux Falls.

Muriel was deeply involved in her communities and found immense joy in serving others. She was active in Brookings First United Methodist Church and later at Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, where she sang in the choirs. Her beautiful soprano voice was an inspiration for all who had the pleasure of hearing her sing. She was also an active member of P.E.O. and served on the local board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

In 1998, Muriel moved to Plymouth, Minn., to be closer to family. She became an active member of Messiah Methodist Church, volunteering in numerous roles and naturally joining the choir. Music and service remained important parts of her life.

Muriel had a wonderful love of travel and adventure. She enjoyed accompanying family and friends on Caribbean cruises, traveling the St. Lawrence River, visiting Scotland and Thailand, and participating in multiple mission trips to Jamaica. Later in life, she enjoyed spending winters in Fort Myers, Fla., where she delighted in meeting new people who quickly became friends.

She was also an avid Minnesota Twins fan. Muriel could often be found following the games on her AM transistor radio- even while sitting in the bleachers watching her grandsons play baseball. Muriel and her granddaughter, Alyssa, had a special bond which involved speaking to each other on the phone every day for 30 years.

Muriel had an extraordinary ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, at any time. To the occasional embarrassment of her children, she would greet people she knew and people she had never met with the same enthusiasm. When her children asked whether it was really necessary to greet everyone she encountered, Muriel would simply respond, “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.” Those words perfectly captured the way she lived her life.

Muriel was adored by everyone who knew her. She was beautiful inside and out – and that is saying something for a former Jubilee Queen and Miss Vanity Fair. Her warmth, humor, compassion, musical talent, and genuine interest in others left an indelible impression on everyone she met. She had a rare ability to make people feel welcome, valued, and included - like an old friend.

Muriel is survived by two children, Blake W. Duerre (Sharla), Minnetonka, Minn., and Jennifer A. Horner (Gary Bitter), Middleton, Wis.; five grandchildren, Alyssa, Ashley (Jason), Paul (Julieta), Alex (Erika), and Adam (Nicole); several grandchildren; and nephew, David Pfister (Jackie).

Muriel was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Faris “Skip” Pfister and his wife, Cleone; and sons, Peter and Scott.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for a later date, when family and friends can gather to honor and remember Muriel. Memorials may be directed to Make-A-Wish Foundation or Shriners Children’s. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
Middleton, Wis.
(608) 831-6761