Marguerite Belka

Marguerite K. Belka, age 84, a resident of Fergus Falls, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 8, 2009, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, MN under the care of Lakeland Hospice.  Marguerite Katherine Abel was born on September 23, 1924 to Romeo and Clarice (Young) Abel in Minneapolis, MN. She attended parochial and public schools in Perham, MN, where she lived with her grandparents, Henry M. and Martha D. Young. After high school she attended Moorhead Teachers College (now MSUM), and did her student teaching in New York Mills, MN and Milnor, ND. Marguerite married her high school sweetheart, Edward R. Belka on January 10, 1946 after he returned from military service in the Philippines during WWII. They lived in Detroit Lakes, and then moved to Fergus Falls in 1954. Marguerite completed her B.S. degree in Elementary Education and took graduate courses from Moorhead State University. She taught reading and math in the Chapter I program in Fergus Falls elementary schools for 20 years. She was a charter member of the Alpha Mu chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa teachers’ sorority. Along with Ed, Marguerite was a charter member of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, where she helped set up Hope’s education program and also attended Bible study and Circle. Marguerite and Ed were members of the Third Saturday Whist Club for over 30 years. Marguerite was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and had a special place in her heart for children. She was a caring friend to all who knew her, and her enthusiasm for celebrating all of life’s special events brought joy to those around her. She will be greatly missed. Marguerite was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, and her parents. She is survived by two sons, Thomas of Morris, MN, and Lee (Laurie) of Eden Prairie, MN; daughter Katherine (Steve) Shark of Fargo, ND; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Dan (Grace) Curtiss of Albuquerque, NM. A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, 1309 Stony Brook Road, in Fergus Falls at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 14, 2009 with Reverend Jon Olson officiating. Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com