Margaret “Marge” Busch, 
80, Fertile, MN, died Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home, in Fertile.
Margaret Fay (Thordarson) Busch was born April 5, 1939, in Walhalla, ND, the daughter of Larus and Johanna (Sturlaugson) Thordarson. She spent her early years in the Svold-Hallson, ND, area and attended several rural grade schools with her mother and teacher. She graduated with honors from the Walsh County Agricultural School in Park River, ND in 1956. In her later years, she attended Northland Community College in Thief River Falls, MN and impressed her professors and classmates.
Marge worked for the United States Government for several years at the county courthouse in Cavalier, ND. She also worked for Big Horn Implement Co., in Hardin, MT. When they moved to Minnesota, she worked for Kmart in the main office in Thief River Falls.
Marge served on several boards during her lifetime. She was an active member and board member of the Jaycees in Montana. She also served on the Yellowstone Valley Boy Scouts Council in Montana. She served as a local Girl Scout leader and on the Pine Girl Scout Council, Grand Forks, ND. Marge was the 9th District President of the General Federation of the Women’s Club, and was on the state executive board. She was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church of Mentor, MN and served on the church council. Later, Marge and Gene were members of Little Norway Lutheran Church rural Fertile. Marge enjoyed the arts, mosaics, quilting, gardening, and cooking/baking.
Marge and Gene were married on August 25, 1957, in Cavalier. They celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2017. Her parents and maternal grandparents were also married for more than 50 years. Gene and Marge lived in many places over the years: Valley City, ND, Flasher, ND, Richey, MT, Scobey, MT, Hardin, MT, Newfolden, MN, Mentor, and Fertile. Summers with young children were usually spent on campus at the University of Montana and UND. In 1975, they purchased their lake property on Maple Lake. As a family, they would take 2-week road trips around the West. They retired in 1994 and bought the retired superintendent’s house in Mentor.
They raised a family of three children: Jeff (Julie) and sons Kyle and Ryan, Belgrade, MT, Lisa (Dennis ) Noreen and daughters Peyton and Annika Troutdale, OR, and Karen (Keith Pederson) of Fertile. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Dean McMurchie and Ronald Thordarson.
Memorial Service: 1:00 PM, Monday, December 23, 2019, at Concordia Lutheran Church, in Fertile.
Visitation: One hour before the service at the church.
Memorials preferred to Parkinson Foundation, local Girl Scouts and 4-H, and Little Norway Lutheran Church.
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home Fertile, MN. www.eriksonvikfh.com
