Grace Margaret Josephine Dokken Gjerdingen was born January 6, 1920, at her parents' home in Barsness Township, of rural Pope County, Minnesota. Her parents were Emil and Enger (Landmark) Dokken. She was baptized at home by Reverend Belgum from the Barsness church and confirmed in Norwegian by Rev. Palmer at East Zion Lutheran Church, a country church in Pope County. Two weeks after she was confirmed, she started teaching the five year olds at East Zion Church. After graduating from Glenwood High School, Margaret attended one year of teacher's training and then taught for two years in rural Pope County schools. On September 15, 1940, she was united in marriage to Erwin Gjerdingen of Langhei Township in Pope County. Except for early years in Starbuck, MN, and Laredo, TX, and later months in Arden Hills, MN, Erwin and Margaret lived most of their 69-year marriage in Benson, MN. During the first two years in Benson, Margaret clerked at Forsberg's Red and White store. In the early 1950's she became a member of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church and served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher for many years. She was active in American Lutheran Church Women and served as president. Margaret volunteered her service to many civic organizations. She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary. She was also active in Women's Christian Temperance Union as a member and president. She served for thirty-five years as the Girl State Chairman of the American Legion Auxiliary and for many years as the Swift County Chairman for the Minnesota Society of Crippled Children and Adults. She regularly took part in Memorial Day events at the high school and at the cemetery. She loved to sing and volunteered to lead sing-alongs at a local nursing home. Margaret was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt. The family enjoyed road trips to the Black Hills, Yellowstone, and Glacier, and summer days shared with family and friends at a cottage on Lake Minnewaska. Margaret was called from this life by her Savior on Friday, January 20, at Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills, at the age of 92 years and 14 days. Margaret is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and John Ehrhardt, of Cathedral City, CA; son and daughter-in-law, Eugene and Dwenda of Roseville, MN; grandsons, David of Little Canada, MN, and Steven of Roseville, MN; brother-in-law, Gerald Gjerdingen, of Bloomington, MN; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Erwin; her parents, Emil and Enger; three brothers, Garfield, Ralph and Raymond; one brother-in-law, Herbert Gjerdingen, and three sisters-in-law, Jonnette Dokken, Orla Dokken, and Evelyn Gjerdingen.
