MARGARET V. MOCABEE
Margaret V. Mocabee, 94, of Helena, passed away peacefully at her residence at Touchmark Extended Care Facilities.
Margaret was born on May 1, 1918 to Lee M. Newton and Lenora M. Schumm in her grandparent’s home located in Box Canyon in the Pryor Mountains near Edgar, Montana. She gained her education attending school at Edgar, having to ride horseback a good share of the time to and from school, a distance of over 8 miles. When daily weather got too severe, she stayed in Edgar with her grandparents. Margaret married Howard Mocabee of Edgar on February 15, 1937, following a wonderful 2-year courtship. They eloped and married in Billings.
Margaret and Howard farmed in the Edgar and Fromberg areas from 1942 to 1956 before moving to Billings, where Howard worked at Rocky Mountain College and Margaret took a job with the Department of Agriculture at their ASCS office in Billings. She worked at this job for 21 years before retiring to a new home they built back in Edgar.
Following Howard’s death in 1989, Margaret lived in Edgar for 12 years, then 6 more years in Billings before moving to Helena to be closer to her two daughters, Nancy Lee and JoAnn. She spent most of her remaining years at Hunters Pointe Retirement Residence with the last 6 months residing at Touchmark.
Margaret is survived by her two daughters, Nancy Wetstein (Willis) and JoAnn Schneider (Tom), both of Clancy. Additionally, she is survived by 9 grandchildren, 19 great- grandchildren and 2 great great- grandchildren. Surviving grandchildren include Dan (Kathy) Wetstein, Steven (Martha) Wetstein, John (Loree) Wetstein, Patricia (Scott) Bell, Kevin (Gail) Schneider, Brian Schneider, Perry (Kathy) Schneider, Shelly (Cliff) Tsai and Jennifer Schneider. Surviving great-grandchildren are Bill Becker, J.Paul (Breanne) Wetstein, Mark Wetstein, Mike (Alicia) Bell, Meagan (Justin) Halvorson, Melissa Bell, Lothar Wetstein, Leonora Wetstein, Jolie Wetstein, Justin Wetstein, Reed Schneider, Cole Schneider, Abigail Schneider, Zachary Schneider, Bradley Schneider, Michael Schneider, Mikayla Schneider, Darien Schneider and Amalee Schneider. The two surviving great great grandchildren are Mason Bell and Shealyn Wetstein. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Elaine Newton and Ruby Mocabee, brother-in-law Quentin Mocabee and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Margaret spent a very active life and was a great organizer. She was often called upon to organize and lead various community and work activities due to her dynamic personality. She was a member and an active participant in the Fromberg St. Joseph’s Altar Society and NARFE – the National Active & Retired Federal Employees organization for many years. Although Edgar is an unincorporated town with no town officials, Margaret was always considered “the Mayor of Edgar†by her friends and peers when she resided there.
A vigil service for Margaret will be held Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM at St. Mary Catholic Community. A funeral Mass will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 3, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Fromberg with committal rites following at the Rockvale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Margaret’s name are suggested to Frontier Home Health & Hospice, 800 Front St., Helena, MT 59601, St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Fromberg, MT 59029 or a charity of your choice.
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Barbara Nicholas says
What a privilege it was to know and have Margaret in our family’s life! She always was good for a joke or two; we celebrated a number of 4th of July picnics on the Bolenske property north of Laurel. We send our love and sympathy.
Barbara (Shipp) Nicholas & family (My mother was Letha Bolenske Shipp)
Mike Bell says
2 files added to the album New Album Name
Mike Bell says
1 file added to the album Gram
Donald W. Bolenske Jr. says
What a wonderful person and neighbor to our family, full of joy and allways had stories to tell. We will miss her but will always remember the old days on the farm. Our prayers are with the family. Love, Don Bolenske Jr. & Family.
George McGrail says
Dear Nancy & Willis and family:
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you in this sad time. Now she and Joyce can talk about the past times at Edgar while they await us joining them in the after life. Margaret was such a sweet lady and Joyce and I always enjoyed our visits with her. I know that she is at peace but I also know that there is a large hole in your hearts and she will be greatly missed. Deepest Sympathy to all the family. With Warmest Regards – George McGrail
David Roy Lynn says
My condolence to you,Nancy and JoAnn. Your mom was a great lady. Margret and Howard were good friends of mom and dad. But why not! We lived so close in those days,plus all those years in school together..Nancy called me Gramps, and I called myself lucky to have known all of you. My nickname now is uncleroy, but to you and your folks i’ll always be the one down the road..See you Saturday. Roy Lynn..
Marie Tobin says
Tom and Joann and family, and Nancy and Willis and family,
Our love and sincere sympathy go out to you at this time. We are so glad that we got to know Margaret- what a delightful, and sharp as a whip, lady! I first met Margaret when I drove her and some other Hunter’s Pointe ladies to an organ concert at the Cathedral. Another favorite memory is of Margaret making the Cursillo when she was about 90! Let us know if there is anything we can do for you at this time. May God shower down blessings upon you as you celebrate this amazing woman!
Jeff and Marie Tobin
Alice J. Richey says
Dear JoAnn and Nancy and all,
I remember and admired your your mom during the years I went to school in Edgar. She was always smiling and fun. We moved from Edgar to Belfry in March of my 8th grade. It’s always nice to see friends from the Edgar area and I regret we could not be with all of you today.
With sincere sympathy, Alice (Dolly Steffan) Richey, Powell, WY
jenine johnson says
1 file added to the album New Album Name
Terry Kane says
Margaret along with our Aunt Mert & Cel Schumm had more energy than anybody I can remember in Edgar. Always busy and on the go. Our Dad Jack Kane who lived in Pryor all his life would laugh when Gail and I would ask him if he didn’t want to move to Edgar–he said he was close enough…they always kept him and his brother James in line. Margaret will be missed. Take care.
Terry Kane and Gail Indreland
Eugene Schumm says
Dear Nancy and JoAnn,
We are all saddened by the news. I am glad that I had the opportunity of visiting with her this summer. She was delightful, energetic and related many stories of her, Bub and the other Schumms. My father – Bub Schumm – spoke many times of Margaret, Perry and the days in Edgar. Bub and my sister Karen took several trips back to Edgar to visit in his later years. He always seemed to have a special place in his heart for Margaret.
Gene Schumm.
Sue Robertson says
Lit a candle in memory of Margaret V. Mocabee
Sue Robertson says
My parents, Elmer and Mildred Bromenshenk, enjoyed many days of traveling with Margaret and Howard. Reading of her passing reminded me of the happy days these three couples had while exploring the country. Please accept my condolences. Memories last forever.
Sue Robertson