Margaret I. Grace, 85

Margaret I. Grace, 85, passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. She was born Nov. 25, 1920, in Rock Glen, Saskatchewan, the daughter of Peter and Clarabel (Abbot) Engel.

Margaret worked on the farm with her parents, two sisters and her brother. She attended Goose Creek School in Canada for grades 1-8, took government correspondence courses for grades 9-11, and completed high school in Rock Glen. She attended nurses training in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

She married George Grace on Oct. 18, 1941, in Winnipeg where she and George lived while George instructed airframe mechanics for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The couple moved to Kalispell in 1951 where George worked as a machinist and Margaret raised their four children. Margaret spent her summer days tending to her garden and yard.

Margaret was involved as a Cub Scout den mother and as a 4-H leader during her children's young lives. She worked for more then 15 years as a cook for the Evergreen Grade School.

Margaret was thrilled to be able to enjoy her grandchildren as they grew into the wonderful young people they have become. Attending ball games and other school functions her grandchildren participated in was her greatest pleasure.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; her sisters, Pauline and Lila; and brother, Irvine.

She is survived by her children; one daughter, Sheila Burton, and husband, Larry, of Butte, and Sheila's daughters, Lisa and Kelly; and three sons, Barry Grace, and wife, Cyndie, of Kalispell, and their two daughters, Shannon and Jennifer; son, Greg Grace, and wife, JeNeil, of Kalispell, and their children, Chris, Chad, Scott, Steph and Mac; and son, Brian Grace, of Sacramento, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Ella, of Missoula; also by numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Margaret I. Grace will be held at 11 a.m. today, June 24, at Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell. There will be no viewing. Urn burial will be after services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to the America Reads Program at Kalispell Junior High School, 205 Northwest Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901; or the American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Road, Suite 105, Missoula, MT 59808.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Margaret's family.