Margaret Sorensen

Margaret (Marge) Louise Sorensen, 63, of Great Falls passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2013.A service celebrating Marges life will be held for at Peace Lutheran Church,on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Schnider Funeral home is handling the arrangements.Marge was born to parents Warren and Mildred Erickson on August 24, 1950. She grew up, along with her brothers, sisters and cousins on the Erickson family farm north of Cartwright, North Dakota. Attending grade school at Cartwright, she graduated from high school in Fairview, Montana in 1969. She attended Billings Business College for a year, returning and working at the Fairview Bank. She met Tim Sorensen from Sidney in January of 1972, and they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairview on September 2, 1972. They began their married lifes journey together in Glasgow. As time went on, Tims career took them to several different locations. They lived in Jordan, Idaho Falls, ID, Malta, Glasgow again, and then Lewistown.Along the way three children were born to Marge and Tim; a son Clayton, a daughter Amy, and a second son Ryan. Marge worked in various banks, then stayed home to raise her young children, but also doing childcare in her home for others. As her children grew older, Marge returned to work in Lewistown, first at Family Video, and then as a retail clerk at Pamida. Her children grew up and left home to pursue their own lives and careers. At that point, and at Marges urging, Tim and Marge bought a rural home on a small acreage on Cottonwood Creek, 10 miles south of Lewistown, on a south slope facing the Big Snowy Mountains. For Marge, this was her dream home.Being retired, she spent countless days enjoying long hikes in the countryside with her camera in hand, and her beloved dog Mollie, at her side. She was thrilled with the mountain bluebirds in the area, putting up a small bluebird trail of nesting boxes on her property, and photographing them along with the rest of all the birds and wildlife in the area. Her wildlife photos won several awards through the years, and were published on various websites. Marge enjoyed visiting her children and grandchildren, coffee visits with her dear friends, photography, hiking, camping, hunting, many trips traveling throughout Montana and across the Country, and two very treasured trips to Kauai, Hawaii.Her grown children all entered military careers, which scattered them across the country, and occasionally to other countries. In spite of the distance barriers involved, Marge was very proud of her children and grandchildren, keeping track of them through visits, photos and phone calls. She carried a pack of her grandchildrens photos along with her and was quick to show them at every opportunity. Marge and her best friends formed a Wednesday morning coffee group in Lewistown and Marge very seldom missed a Wednesday.Marge was a gentle soul, always putting the needs of others above her own, and was well liked by everyone. In April of 2012, Marge and Tim moved to Great Falls to be near the excellent medical facilities. She continued her long battle with cancer at Great Falls, with uncommon courage and without complaint, until peacefully passing away in her sleep at the Peace HospiceResidentialFacility.Marge will be forever loved, and terribly missed, by her survivors; her husband, Tim Sorensen; sons Clayton (Lorena) Sorensen and Ryan (Arum) Sorensen; daughter Amy (Tim) Wharton; grandchildren Clayton Jr. Sorensen, Conrad Sorensen, Jacob Wharton, Robert Wharton, Audrey Wharton and Allison Wharton; siblings Alice Jordan, Tom (Ginny) Erickson, Linda (Larry) Putnam, Wes (Judy) Erickson, David (Rhonda) Erickson, and Jennifer Erickson; mother-in-law Myrtle Sorensen; brother-in-law Carl (Beverly) Sorensen; and all of her nieces, nephews, and countless friends and neighbors.She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Mildred Erickson; father-in-law Albert Sorensen; brothers-in-law Ralph Bye and Ted Jordan; sister-in-law Irene Bye; and nephew Larry Erickson.Memorials may be sent to Sletten Cancer Institute, Gift of Life Housing centers, or Peace Hospice,all at: Benefis Health System Foundation, PO Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406, or at: foundation@benefis.org.