Margaret Le Duc, 97
Margaret Le Duc died peacefully Thursday morning, Sept. 13, 2007, at her home in Bigfork. She was born on Jan. 8, 1910, to Edward J. and Madeline Murphy at the family homestead in South Minnewaukan Township, Devils Lake, N.D. Margaret attended the rural school for her elementary education, Crary High School and St. Mary's Academy for her high school, and Valley City Teachers' College, where she received her teaching certificate.
After teaching in rural schools in North Dakota, Margaret and her sister Genevieve were both selected for the teacher training program at the renowned Lexington School for the Deaf in New York City, where they received degrees in education of the deaf. Margaret eventually became a highly-esteemed member of the faculty at the Lexington School.
A highlight of her professional career was a visit from Helen Keller, the world famous speaker, author, and advocate for persons with disabilities, who came to Margaret's classroom to observe her instructional methods. Her exceptional teaching skills were documented in the textbook, "Natural Language for Deaf Children" by Dr. M.A. Groht. Margaret's complete lessons in composition were recorded in shorthand and included verbatim as exemplary methodology in this groundbreaking book.
Margaret treasured her lifelong friendships with the dedicated educators with whom she worked. She traveled to Europe in 1958 with several of her colleagues to participate in the International Congress on Education of the Deaf. The highest tribute to her work, however, came from the many students who remained in communication with her long after she completed her career in New York. Each June when the school term ended, Margaret returned to her family's farm near Crary, N.D., where her nieces and nephews spent wonderful summer days with their intelligent, independent and much-loved aunt.
She married Don Wood in the 1940s. They made their home in a lovely vineyard in St. Helena, Napa Valley, Calif. When Don died unexpectedly seven years later, Margaret returned to New York and resumed her teaching career.
On April 15, 1963, she married Greg Le Duc of Bigfork. He passed away in 1970 and Marg continued living in her beautiful home on Flathead Lake. Marg enjoyed gardening and had a truly spectacular yard.
She was a member of Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, The Village Art Center and belonged to several bridge clubs. Marg will be remembered by her family and friends as passionate, loving and proud to be Irish.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Madeline Murphy; sisters, Mary Byerly and Genevieve Rutten; husbands, Don Wood and Greg Le Duc; stepson, Grant Le Duc; nephews, Richard and Kenneth Le Duc, and grand-niece, Kelly Rutten.
She is survived by nephews, John Rutten and wife, Mary, of Devils Lake, N.D.; Tom Rutten and wife, Char, of Myrtle Creek, Ore.; Dick Rutten and wife, Jacque, of Minot, N.D.; Don Rutten and wife, Deb, of Woodbury, Minn.; Robert Rutten and wife, Caryl, of Bismarck, N.D.; Keir Francisco Byerly of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; and Patricio Byerly of Navajoa, Sonora, Mexico; and Robert Le Duc and wife, Betty, of Kalispell; nieces, Susan Anderson and husband, Terry, of Roseburg, Ore.; Patricia Helfenstein and husband, Gary, of Shillington, Pa.; Donna Jones and husband, Richard, of Portland; and Patricia Weed and husband, Kenneth, of Whitefish; daughter in law, Sue Le Duc, and husband, Grant, of Phoenix; and numerous grand-and great-grandnieces and -nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. Visitation will be from noon until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Johnson Mortuary. Cremation will follow services and urn burial will be at a later date in California.
Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Margaret's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Margaret's guest book.