Margaret Welander

Margaret Welander, 94, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, March 15, 2009, at the Pioneer Retirement Community in Fergus Falls. Margaret C. Welander was born March 9, 1915, in Pine City, the daughter of William and Mary (McPhillips) Buckley. She moved with her family to Bagley in 1920. After graduating in 1932 from Bagley High School, she attended a Teacher’s Training Course and taught a year in a one room school house in Mahnomen. She graduated from French’s Business College in Bemidji and worked at the County Security Office in Bagley, Bemidji and the District Office in Thief River Falls. On June 11, 1938, she married Oscar Welander at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bagley. Oscar and Margaret opened Foss-Welander Jewelry Store at 114 E. Lincoln Ave., Fergus Falls, in September of 1939. Margaret studied college accounting and did the book keeping for their store for over 50 years. Margaret and Oscar were members of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. As a charter and life member, she held several offices in Catholic Daughters of America. She played the organ for weekly Mass services at the Pioneer and Broen Homes for 15 years. Her greatest priority was her immediate and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; one sister; her husband, of 67 years, Oscar; and an infant son, Michael John. She is survived by three daughters, Marita (Henry) Shaw of Stevens Point, WI, Janet Lohmeyer of Fergus Falls and Jeanne (John) Grunhard of Bloomington; two sons, James Welander of Fergus Falls and Richard Welander of Tigard, OR; a daughter-in-law, Claire Welander of Milwaukee, OR; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sr. Carmella Buckley and Sr. Brigetta Buckley, both of Crookston; two sisters-in-law, Peggy Buckley of Fergus Falls and Marlene Buckley of Lodi, CA, along with several nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Fergus Falls   Clergy:  Father LeRoy Schik and Father Bill Gamber Interment:  St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery, Fergus Falls Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online to www.olsonfuneralhome.com