Marguerite Adelaide Lundgren's Obituary
Marguerite A. Lundgren
Marguerite Adelaide Stocking was born in Ellensburg, Washington on September 12, 1910. She was the youngest child and only daughter of Frederick Ambrose Stocking and Mary Anna Daub Stocking. Her four older brothers ~ Bernard, Frederick, Raymond, and Theodore ~ left home while she was very young. While her father was in the Navy, they lived a short time in Ketchikan, Alaska, and then settled in Tacoma, where her father retired as a Major in the Army Signal Corps. Marguerite met and married George P. Swanson in 1928. They had three children ~ Marie Ellisieve, George P. Jr. (who died at birth) and James Leonard. Marguerite later married Carl A. Lundgren in 1940. They were together 53 years until his death in 1993.
There was so much more to Marguerite than many knew. She was a phenomenal artist who painted in oils for pleasure, and sold for necessity. She could sew anything, and made many of her children's clothes during The Depression and beyond. She was a good cook and kept a beautifully organized home. But it was her gardening skills that propelled her to renown. Prior to the grip of Alzheimer's disease, Marguerite could be seen in her garden, weeding, hoeing, planting, moving rocks, lining garden paths ~ whatever it took to make a nondescript piece of ground into a beautiful, flourishing garden. Whether she was planting a vegetable garden for food or a flower garden for its beauty, she was always active and busy. She was still going strong, moving boulders well into her late 80s.
Marguerite spent the last eight years of her life in an adult family home, lovingly cared for by Flavius and Rachel Radu and their extended family. They always treated Marguerite as if she was their grandmother, and for that, our family is forever grateful.
Marguerite celebrated her 98th birthday in September with a small family party, and passed away quietly in her sleep on October 15, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband Carl Lundgren, Son-in-law Loren B. Mahnke and daughter Marie Mahnke.
Marguerite is survived by her son, James L. Swanson (Carole Sue); grandchildren Loreena Mahnke-Simpson (Chuck), Linnea Hermes (Dennis), Kaelin Mahnke (Cathy), Lawrence Mahnke, Rizae Pfiefle (Kevin), Carla McCaffery, James L. Swanson III (Valerie), Heidi Johnson, Jeana Allison (Dan), Allison Wilheim, Alex Swanson, 31 great-grandchildren and 30 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have been provided by Mountain View Funeral Home. There will be a celebration of Marguerite's life at 2:00 PM, Friday, October 24, 2008 at the Garden Chapel. For those who cannot attend, please feel free to write in her online guestbook at: www.mountainviewtacoma.com.
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