Margaret Olava (Peterson) Stender, 90, of Sheridan, passed away Sunday, August 20, 2017 at Westview Health Care Center. She was born March 20, 1927 in Havre, Montana to Walter Palmer and Gertrude (Hoyum) Peterson. Margaret graduated for Havre High School. Due to hardscrabble conditions, Margaret and her sister, Avis lived as young girls in Havre to attend school. She attended Northern Montana College for two years.
Margaret married James A. Stender on September 11, 1949. She worked from 1948 to 1954 as a med tech/secretary in her early years. Then, in the mid 1960’s she worked as a church secretary. Later, in the mid 1970’s she began her career at Sheridan Memorial where she worked for Jack Yale, then moved into the pathology laboratory where she worked in the early 1980’s, maybe up until 1987. She enjoyed the technical challenge and the professional atmosphere of the pathology laboratory. This enabled many lasting friendships that she enjoyed until her death.
Margaret was active in church events during her working years and at one time was the Lutheran Church secretary in Cut Bank, Montana. She was very committed to sewing and making crafted goods for her children and in later years, had the ability to darn and mend. Margaret provided her husband, James with inspiration and participated in the Jeans and Queens square dance club in Sheridan.
She was preceded in death by her son, Stephen and siblings, Harley, Oliver, Avis and LeRoy. Margaret is survived by her husband, James; children, Barbara (David) Allen of Indianola, Iowa, Janet ( Greg) Owsley of Manteca, California, and Jay (Mila) Stender of Sheridan; grandchildren, Stephanie Stender Penrose of Sheridan, Erika Stender Marlatt of Scottsdale, Arizona, Tealand Stender of Sheridan, Jeffery Owsley of Santa Cruz, California, Shelby Owsley-Oakes of Kalispell, Montana, and Emily Owsley of Lincoln, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, Grayson Oakes of Kalispell, Breslin Penrose of Sheridan, and Everett Penrose of Sheridan.
A visitation will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church followed by a Funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Phil Wold officiating. Reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be held after the reception at 1:00 p.m. in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.