Marjorie Mae Hondle's Obituary
Marjorie Mae Hondle was born on May 29, 1923, in Bozeman, Montana. She was the sixth of seven children. She learned to swim by holding her dad's back pockets while he waded out and fished in the Gallatin River in Montana. He called her "skunk skinner" because she was the only child who would help him skin pelts to sell in town. She loved Montana.
They moved to California and lived in Los Nietas and Whittier. She and her siblings enjoyed playing in fields of fruit trees, eating all the fresh fruit they wanted. They also loved trading their lard and salt sandwiches for the homemade bean burritos the Mexican neighbor children took to school. She played with trapdoor spiders and snakes!
The family moved to Washington in 1935. Eventually, they moved into a big house on 60th and McKinley in Tacoma. Marge went to Gault Junior High and Lincoln High. While at Gault, she did gymnastics and even had her own team that performed. While at Lincoln, she was active in swimming and other sports as well.
She met Delbert Hondle when she was a young teenager but could not date yet. Finally she was able to go on a date with Del. He drove them around the block exactly one time in his car. Her mother was waiting on the front step! After that they went out but were always together with her other siblings and their dates. They were not allowed to be out alone until after they were engaged. They went out once and decided it was too boring without everyone else!
Marge and Del were married on August 29, 1941. They lived in several places in Tacoma but finally bought a small one-room house in Parkland. Over the years they would build onto that and turn it into a three-bedroom house. They even built their own fireplace with tall chimney.
They had three children, Jim, Sharon and Debbie. Del worked at a family business called Hondle's Auto Parts and Garage. It was on 84th and Pacific in Tacoma.
Marge accepted Jesus as her savior when she was 23. Her father-in-law had a mission in downtown Tacoma where people would come in from the street. They would hear preaching of the gospel and afterward were able to have food which was prepared in the back by her mother-in-law. Marge helped out at the mission, and one night gave her heart to Jesus.
Eventually, she began attending South Tacoma Assembly of God, even before it was a church. She shared the vision of a church and was a charter member. All three children were raised there.
Marge's husband, Delbert, went to heaven in 1980. Her son, Jim, went to be with Jesus in 2018. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Radcliff of Parkland and Debbie Snyder of Puyallup. She has five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren.
(PERSONAL STUFF)
If you said something she didn't agree with or that she thought was preposterous, she would either give you the hand or make a sound that we all call "the air leak." You know if you got those your idea was instantly dismissed at ridiculous.
Nobody messed with Marge.
Marge could cook and bake like nobody else. She was known for her bread especially and her famous cottage cheese pie.
She was a real student of the bible, especially of the old testament. She had many commentaries and study books and would research everything.
She loved sports and politics and could take about any subject at length.
Marge loved working with babies. She was in charge of the nursery at South Tacoma for 30 years. It was called "the cradle roll." She also opened her heart and home to 16 foster babies. She continued to pray for those 16 throughout the years.
She loved stuffed animals and getting presents. She loved giving presents just as much!
She was full of faith but also very practical.
Marge loved to sew and crochet. She made clothes for her family and blessed many people with beautiful crocheted gifts.
When she was a young mother, Marge suffered from terrible headaches that were sometimes incapacitating. She was invited to an Oral Roberts healing meeting and was instantly healed. He said to her, "Never fear again." She went home and threw all of her pills away. She never had another headache.
(GOING TO HEAVEN)
Marge entered heaven on Valentine's Day at 4:30 p.m. She completed her race and won her crown.
ALL OF HER QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. ALL OF HER DREAMS CAME TRUE. ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD WERE KEPT.
What’s your fondest memory of Marjorie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marjorie?
Share a story where Marjorie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marjorie you’ll never forget.
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