Margaret Berger, 88

Margaret Berger, 88, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

She was born July 22, 1916, in Albany, Ore., the daughter of Roland Simon and Margaret (Templeton) Snyder. At the age of four, she moved with her parents to New Plymouth, Idaho, and about 1924, they relocated to Kalispell. She attended grade school at Central School and graduated from Flathead County High School. She was very active in the music programs, and was quite proficient at the piano and violin. She was the concert mistress during her high school years under the direction of J.B. Van Amberg.

Following graduation she attended the Northwest Bible Institute in Seattle for one year. In 1939, she went to Chicago and worked as a singer and also played piano. She later worked at the School Musician magazine in Chicago. She also worked in the factories during World War II. Following the war she returned to Kalispell and about 1954 began working as a telephone operator and continued until her retirement.

She enjoyed singing, playing the piano and violin and was also an avid reader and also enjoyed cooking.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Larry "Shorty" Berger; a sister, Mary Louise Snyder; and a brother, David Louis Snyder.

She is survived by her children, David Stark and Carolita Pixie Stark, both of Kalispell; two brothers, Paul Snyder of Serverna Park, Md., and Haven Snyder of Auburn, Wash.; seven grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Urn graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell. There is no visitation.

The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to the charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.