The Celebration of a Very Long Life

Last week, we faced a day that we knew was coming. After a short illness, my grandma died at 101-years-old. For quite some time, we thought she might be immortal, but alas, that was not true.

I wanted to share a few highlights from her obituary. She wrote most of it for herself, so the colloquialisms are all her own. I recognize that this is not BHH-related, but around here, we like to celebrate longevity, and I hope you enjoy learning a little bit about my Grandma.

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1916-2018

Margaret Dell

Margaret was born in November 1916 at the farm home of her parents. Margaret attended school in Hopkins her first two grades and stayed with her Grandparents during the school year. When her parents moved to Bedford, she split her third and fourth grades there, returning with her parents to the farm where she completed the remainder of fourth through eighth grades at the Unity country school. Margaret attended high school while alternatively staying with her grandparents and riding a horse back and forth from the farm, graduating in 1934.

(Did you catch that? Her primary transportation was a horse!)

On October 5, 1935, Margaret married Orlin, and they came to live on her parent’s family farm in 1939 when her parents moved away. This was to remain her home until a storm damaged the house in 2002, necessitating a move into town. (She turned 86-years-old that year.)

(This picture was taken in the front yard of her farm. While I was in Missouri, I drove by in hopes of getting an updated picture of the property, but the house was razed, and the driveway is impassable now.)

Also, this next part is sad, but I’ve included it because life was hard in those times, and sad things happened. 

Five children were born to this union. In Margaret’s own words, “In January 1940, Wayne Elbert came to bless the home, but he was not destined to stay long, leaving us in February. Larry (my dad)  born in 1941, then followed Lois Janelle, August 1945. This little angel stayed with us until September. August 1946, Roger and Paula in November 1948 followed. Orlin and I have been blesst by a fine family, including five grandchildren, who have been a great joy to their grandparents.”

(From an early age, my dad embraced cowboy life and dress. I think this picture was taken in nearly the same spot as the first photo.)

As a housewife, Margaret helped her husband on the farm. When all her children reached school-age, Margaret along with Orlin owned and operated the Hop-In Restaurant in Hopkins in the 1950’s. Margaret later worked at Barnett Grocery in Hopkins as well as the Safeway Grocery and JC Penney’s in Maryville plus time at the sewing factory in Bedford, Iowa.

In addition to her infant children, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband just four days prior to their 57th wedding anniversary in October 1992, her son, Larry (my dad) in May 2012, and her brother Edwin in August 2013.

Margaret’s path through life brought her great joy. Her hobbies included genealogy, art, playing the organ, quilts, crocheting and getting to know people with whom she came into contact in her life pursuits. Among her many community activities, she delivered Meals on Wheels, played piano for the high school chorus, co-founded the Sixty Plus Social Center, wrote for the Hopkins Journal and Bedford Times-Press, and participated in many aspects of the Hopkins Picnic. In addition, she served on boards for OATS, Long Branch Cemetery, and the Hopkins Historical Museum.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Music Club, Merry Ridge Club, Merrie Mixers, TRY Extension Club, and the Wray Memorial Methodist Church, where she was listed on the Cradle Roll as an infant, baptized at 15, held many positions and was pianist and organist for nearly 40 years. Margaret continued her community service crocheting prayer shawls and making hats for Ben’s Stockings after moving to Parkdale Manor. She made new friends there, maintained a positive outlook and always tried to help others.

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While it was hard to say goodbye, Grandma lived 101 active and healthy years on this earth. Her funeral truly was a celebration of her very long life.