Marjorie May Walby

Marjorie May Gehrki Walby was born June 24, 1919, in Hettinger, North Dakota, to Charles and Mabelle Gehrki of Lodgepole, South Dakota. She spent her last days in this world surrounded by family, and passed on to new life Monday morning, May 16, 2011 at 6:30 a.m. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm Wednesday, May 18, at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, May 19, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Joel Samuelson officiating. Burial will be held in the Hettinger Cemetery. Margie attended the East Lodgepole school for the first eight years of school, and her first year of high school at Bison, South Dakota. She finished high school and graduated from Hettinger High School. Her mother Mabelle was a teacher and music teacher, and had taught Margie many things, including how to play the piano. She and her father Charles started singing at funerals when she was 12. She also sang solos for many funerals, sang in the church choir and was the organist occasionally for services. Margieï¿½s greatest dream was to have a singing career, but due to the Great Depression, there was no way to do that. After graduating, she married Clifford Walby at Bison, South Dakota. They made their home in Hettinger most of their lives, except for a few years when the children were small and Cliff was driving a semi-gas truck in Montana, during which time the family lived in Laurel, Montana and later, Miles City, Montana. The family moved back to Hettinger when Cliff was drafted for service to our country in the United States Army. After Cliff was discharged, they worked at a butcher shop owned by his father. Margie also worked there and they later bought the butcher shop. Margie also served in the Selective Service for two years, worked in two drugs stores and a jewelry store, then was elected to the Office of County Treasurer of Adams County, North Dakota, and served in that office for 32 ï¿½ years. She was a member of the Hettinger Congregational Church, a 57-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Royal Neighbors of America and a life member of the North Dakota County Treasurers Association. Margie was a poet who wrote to celebrate her family and important life events. She loved to ride horse ï¿½ especially her English Bay racing horse, Al, that she rode growing up ï¿½ loved her time with family, singing and playing the piano, bowling, running, and sports, especially those sporting events in which her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren participated. Those who remain in this world to celebrate her life in heart and memory are her sons Charles Walby Maxine and James Walby Ann, daughter JoAnne Reitz, nephew Steve Diane Warren, 15 grandchildren, and to date, 23 great-grandchildren. Margie now joins her parents, Charles and Mabelle Gehrki, baby brother Charles G. Gehrki died in infancy, sister Marion Warren, husband Clifford, and daughter Betty Rorvig in new life.

Marjorie May Walby

June 24, 1919 - May 16, 2011