Margaret Emelia Devous

Margaret Emelia Devous passed away May 3, 2014. She was born March 3, 1914 to Christian Peter and Maria Flora (Panzenhagen) Volquardsen. She lived her entire life in the Gallatin Valley except for the two week travel back from New Ulm, Minnesota where she was born. Margaret attended Bozeman schools. First Leverich School, then Emerson School and finally graduated from Gallatin High School in 1933. In order to get to high school she rode a horse from the family farm to the electric streetcar which dropped her off on East Main St. From there she walked three miles to Gallatin High School. Margaret worked as a sheep herder, at the Bozeman Seed Farm, the Dutch Mill, the Bon Ton Bakery, Woolworth’s, Sears and retired from JC Penny. She served on the Board of Neighbors of Woodcraft and was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. During WWII she sent 50 care packages to her family in Germany. They were able to thank her and show their gratitude when they got together in 1979. Throughout her life, Margaret enjoyed gardening, painting, camping, the outdoors, and dancing (even at her 100th birthday party). She also enjoyed cooking, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and cross-stitching. Margaret was preceded in death by: her sister Erna Harding; husband Bill Devous; two sons George Eugene Marx and John Ernest Devous; grandson Stephen John Wattier; great-granddaughter Corrie Sue Cassaro; and good friend Don Nash. She is survived by: her daughter Joann Wattier; grandchildren Richard Wattier, Michael Wattier, Dennis Wattier, Kathryn Cassaro, Timothy Wattier, and Christopher Wattier; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Margaret’s name to the Belgrade Senior Center Building Fund, 92 E. Cameron Ave., Belgrade, MT 59714. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Dahl Funeral Chapel followed by interment at Sunset Hills Cemetery.