Murdock, Minnesota - Margaret Anne Walsh, age 95, of Murdock, passed peacefully at the Bethesda Heritage Center on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 7, 2013, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock, with the Rev. William Sprigler officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with a Parish Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Margaret Anne Walsh was born on December 16, 1917 at home in Murdock, Minnesota, the daughter of Martin J. Walsh, Sr. and Mary Jannet "Jennie" (Foley) Walsh. She was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and grew up in Murdock. Her family was originally part of a Catholic colony established by the late Archbishop John Ireland, responsible for bringing many Irish Catholics to Minnesota in the late 1800s for the farm land. She graduated from Murdock High School, Minnesota State College, in Saint Cloud, with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1939, attended Tulane University School of Social Work in 1947, and graduated from Smith College School for Social Work, in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a Master of Social Science degree in 1949. Margaret Anne's career spanned 43 years, working most of her career as a social worker. She worked 30 years for the Veterans Administration across the United States, retiring in 1982 in Des Moines, Iowa. She was a school teacher in Minnesota, 1939 - 1942; a social services liaison for a children's home in Santa Barbara, California, 1942 - 1943; and a case worker for Travelers Aid, Des Moines, Iowa, 1943 - 1947. She was passionate about world travel and enjoyed her experiences immensely in the company of family, and spent six weeks traveling in the Netherlands and London in her 80s. Her love of Swift County and family history prompted her to move back to Murdock for retirement and care for elderly parents in 1982. She was recognized in a 2012 CNN.com article about the 1940 Census records. Margaret Anne was called from this life peacefully on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at the Bethesda Heritage Center with her niece Jannet Walsh at her side. She attained 95 years, 11 months, and 17 days of age. Margaret Anne Walsh is survived by her niece, Jannet Walsh of Murdock; nephew, Paul (Chris) Walsh of Bennett, WI; and six great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin J. Walsh, Sr. and Mary Jannet "Jennie" (Foley) Walsh; one brother, Martin J. Walsh, Jr.; one sister, Mary Agnes (Walsh) Shopa; and one nephew, David M. Walsh.
