Margaret Pettersen

Margaret A. Pettersen, age 92, of Glendive, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care Facility in Glendive. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, January 18, 2003 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor James Hageman officiating. Interment will be in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements. Margaret was born on October 14, 1910 in Glendive, Montana, the daughter of Edward and Augusta (Buttke) Iehl. She grew up west of Bloomfield, Montana on a parcel of land homesteaded by her parents. Margaret would walk two miles to get to school - come rain, sleet or snow and as a young girl she worked for a neighbor who had a big house on the hill, scrubbing floors and doing general cleaning. Later, she worked at Siggelkow's Store, located about halfway between Bloomfield and Lindsay. When Margaret was 18, she was united in marriage to Gustave H. "Stumpy" Pettersen on December 15, 1928 in Bloomfield, Montana. They farmed five miles south of Bloomfield, raising four boys and one girl Maxine who died at the age of 8. Margaret continued to be a hard-working farmer's wife, milking cows, raising chickens, hogs and an occasional dog or cat. Margaret developed a strong back shoveling grain whenever she could help. Among her "specialty" chores, were hot dinners and lunches served in the field. What a welcomed sight she was as she came over the hill at dinner and lunch times - which were served at 4:30 P.M. and usually included lemonade. Margaret was a bit of a competitive type person and took pride in being a top notch card player, getting together with friends and relatives and playing various games. She especially enjoyed playing pinochle and whist. Margaret and Stumpy were always attending sporting events that their sons and families were involved in. She was also very involved in her church's "women's club" of the Bloomfield community and picnic's of Tony's Grove, Evan's Grove and Bo Camp Coulee. Margaret always loved her garden and spent hours watering, weeding, and eventually harvesting the fruits and vegetables. She also loved watching the wheat poke through the soil until it ripened at harvest time. She also enjoyed listening to her sons play musical instruments and sing. Throughout her life, Margaret had an undying faith in God. From that faith, she drew the strength that she needed to cope with the loss of her little daughter, Maxine. She continued to raise and nurture her four boys who also tested her strength and faith many times. We're quite sure it was her faith and prayer that enabled her son Duane to walk away from a couple of close calls with life threatening diseases. And we know she prayed for her other boys and all her grandkids when they needed some sort of "extra" help from God. After Stumpy died in 1985, Margaret lived alone at her home in Glendive until November of 2002. Thanks Mom and Gramma for all that you did and all that you were. Your family.....forever. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Stumpy; daughter, Maxine; and eight brothers and sisters. Margaret is survived by four sons, Lavern Pettersen and his wife JoAnn of Glendive, Gary Pettersen and his wife Marie of Mount Arlington, New Jersey, Duane Pettersen and his wife Shirley of Missoula, Montana and Jim Pettersen and his wife Patti of Glendive; 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Margaret Pettersen

October 14, 1910 - January 18, 2003

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Margaret Pettersen

October 14, 1910 - January 18, 2003

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support