Margaret E. Samuelson

Margaret Elizabeth (Rodgers) Samuelson was born on March 6, 1918, in Kindersley, Saskatchewan Canada to Alfred Edward and Elizabeth Anna (Kettler) Rodgers. She moved with her parents to Stearns County near Melrose, MN at the approximate age of two and grew up in the Padua and Brooten area. As a young adult, she worked at Shriners Children’s Hospital and later as a nanny for the young children of a Jewish family in the Minneapolis, MN area. Margaret later moved back to Stearns County where she was a waitress at the Waldorf Cafe in Sauk Centre, MN.

Through her sister Helen and husband Wayne Cheney, Margaret met Verner Samuelson, who became the love of her life. Their 64 years of marriage began July 11, 1950, at Long Bridge Lutheran Church in Little Sauk, MN. They made their home on the family dairy farm milking Guernsey cows and raising small grains and hay. Margaret worked diligently alongside Verner while raising their four children. She also helped manage the family boat rental business on Long Lake.

Margaret was a loving wife and mother who encouraged her family to be curious about the world around them and to know Jesus. She loved reading the Bible giving her a strong faith and consistent positive attitude, accepting life’s challenges by leaning on her Lord for strength and wisdom. She taught by example, was an encourager, sharing her faith, skills and knowledge, especially with her children and grandchildren. Her desire was to serve the Lord through her “servant hands” by baking, cooking, canning, and freezing, allowing her to prepare countless meals from the bounty of her garden for family and friends. She enjoyed feeding and watching birds, especially Cardinals, growing colorful flower gardens, and fishing. She was an avid reader, learning all she could with the dictionary at her side to expand her vocabulary. Her motto was “If you can read you can learn anything”. She used her self-taught skills to learn knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and sewing which included making her girls “identical” dresses. She learned to play violin through a correspondence course, later playing and singing at church and family events.

Her strong desire for more independence, inspired her when the children were young to learn to drive the family straight stick car. It then enabled her to chauffeur them to church and school activities, 4-H, and piano lessons.

After the dairy cattle were sold, she then supported Verner by rising early to make breakfast and pack lunches before he left for work at 3M in Alexandria, MN. Margaret was involved in the community through Long Bridge Lutheran Ladies Aid, Bible studies, Kandota Homemakers Club, and Eastern Star. After Verner’s retirement, they traveled extensively, shared their love of music attending community concerts and activities that involved their children and seven grandchildren. To occupy her time after moving to Getty Street Assisted Living in 2014, she continued making quilts which she quilted by hand for her grandchildren.

Margaret with her “servant hands” of 105 years went to her eternal home on Thursday, August 17, 2023, after a short stay at Mother of Mercy Memory Care, Albany, MN. Surviving are her children, Elaine Seidel of Williston, ND, Vernette (Paul) Johnson of Sauk Rapids, MN, and Florence Helmbrecht, who lives on the family farm, Sauk Centre, MN; grandchildren, Eric (Richel) Seidel of Guam, Ryan Seidel of Williston, ND, Micah Seidel of Williston, ND, Naomi Johnson of Sauk Rapids, MN, Nicholas Samuelson of Little Sauk, MN, Mitchell (Tara) Samuelson of Alexandria, MN, Logan Samuelson of Sauk Centre, MN; two great grandchildren, Alaric Seidel of Guam and Taylor Samuelson of Alexandria, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Margaret in death are her parents, her husband Verner, son Donald Samuelson, brother Fredrick Rodgers, sister Helen Cheney, brother Edward Rodgers, three sons-in-law, James Bielke, William Helmbrecht, and Richard Seidel.