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E. Grotberg died at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND on January 26, 2015. She was born Margaret Elizabeth Thiel on February 16, 1926 in Valley City, ND to William and Elizabeth (Uloth) Thiel. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City.
Most of her life was spent living in Valley City. She did however spend a year in Seattle, WA during WWII. While living there she went to high school. She worked at Sears Roebuck. Saturday nights were spent at the Palatium Ballroom dancing to the “big bands” with friends. Margaret loved to dance.
In 1944, she graduated from College High School in Valley City. On November 23, 1945, she married Perry Grotberg at Trinity Lutheran Church. Following their marriage, they moved to Boulder City, NV, where Perry had a job with the Bureau of Reclamation on Boulder Dam and Margaret worked at Stauffer Chemical Plant. In the spring of 1947, they moved back to Valley City and have lived there since.
Over the years, Margaret was an active and involved member of Trinity Lutheran Church and sang in the choir for 50 years. She and Perry were instrumental in developing the local and state ARCs (Association for Retarded Children). They helped start the ARC Thrift Store and develop the Open Door Center in Valley City. Margaret and two other parents began the Camping Program for the mentally retarded and she was active in that for over 60 years. She was instrumental in getting a mill levy passed to fund special education in Barnes County schools and served on that board for 8 years. The Grotbergs, along with other parents, worked with legislators to pass laws to include the education of the handicapped in the public schools in North Dakota.
Margaret is survived by her husband, Perry of Valley City; daughters, Amy (Bruce) Anderson and Carol Grotberg both of Valley City and Donna (Don) Gutierrez of Chagrin Falls, OH; grandchildren, Tracey (Chad) Zaun, Jason and Aaron Anderson all of Valley City and Alyssa and Grace Gutierrez of Ohio; 6 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Ardelle (Leonard) Meyer, Harriet (Thoralf) Pederson and Frances (LeRoy) Bauer.
The funeral service for Margaret Grotberg, 88, Valley City, ND will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, January 30, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City. Burial will be later in the spring at Memory Gardens near Valley City.
Visitation will be held at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City on Thursday, January 29, 2015 from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM and will continue an hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Funeral arrangements for Margaret have been entrusted to Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel. Please visit www.olivernathanchapel.com to sign the online guestbook and leave a message for the family.