Margaret Irene Seefeldt

Margaret (Irene) Reed Johnson Seefeldt passed away on December8, 2012 with family by her side. We will celebrate her life on Saturday, December 22, 2012 beginning with a graveside gathering at 2:30 pm at Riverside Memorial Park followed by a memorial service at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Regal and Wellesley at 4:00 pm. We will continue our celebration with a supper at St. Peter’s in remembrance of Margaret’s holiday open houses of the past. Margaret was a faithful longtime member at St. Peter’s. Margaret was born June 18, 1921 at her grandparents log home near Kettle Falls, Ferry County, WA to Harrison Elmer Reed and Lanie Elizabeth (Staehly) Reed. She was their first daughter to be followed by five sisters Mabel, Leta, Arlene, Joyce, Cheryl and one brother, Elmer. Margaret grew up on the family farm on the banks of the Columbia River, graduating from Marcus High School in 1939. She married Ralph Johnson in September 1940. They had 6 children Wilma, Ken, Ron, Bonita, Joleen and Lanie. Margaret and Ralph later divorced. In 1973 she married Fernando Seefeldt. Margaret’s focus was always on raising her children in a Christian home but she also shared her talents working in health care and teaching homemaking skills for families in need. Mom raised 6 kids mostly on her own and we were not really easy! She taught us lots about life and the importance of working hard, being strong yet compassionate, having common sense, keeping a strong faith, the importance of education, and accepting what life brings. Even as time went on, Margaret was able to live in her own home, travel, (including attending the annual family campouts and annual cousins gatherings), send cards to family and friends for any occasion, create beautiful handmade items, play a mean hand of pinochle, keep her sense of humor and enjoy her ever expanding family. We were very blessed to have such an amazing woman in our lives and on this earth for 91 years. Her whole family will miss her. Survivors include her children and their spouses: Wilma and Larry DeVore, Ken and Becky Johnson, Ron and Debbie Johnson, Bonita and Keith Hammer, Joleen and Bill Graham, Lanie and Randy Ralph; stepchildren: Maggie Rail, Marge Seefeldt, and Kathleen and Howard Wynia; her dear friend Marie Ludwig; her siblings: Elmer Reed of Vashon, WA, Mabel Hirsch and Arlene (Hap) Bourgeau, of Colville, WA; Leta Childress of Kennewick, WA; Joyce Bilyeu of Sandy, OR; and Cheryl (Ken) Schmid of Addy, WA; a wealth of grandchildren; great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Those who have gone before her include her parents, Harrison and Lanie Reed; her husband, Fernando Seefeldt; daughter-in-law Judy Johnson; grandsons Brent DeVore and Justin Johnson; and her beloved friend Ellie Edstrom. We know they are happy to have her home.