1925
Margaret
2011
Margaret Tornga
April 7, 1925 — May 19, 2011
Margaret Arvilla Witt Tornga, 86, a retired nurse, passed into the arms of her Beloved Father on May 19, 2011, at the Pondera Medical Center Extended Care unit at Conrad. Visitation will be Friday May 27th from 10:00 am till noon at the Conrad Mission Church. Family graveside services will be at 1:00 pm at the Hillside Cemetery with a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 pm at the church all on Friday. Whitted Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Margaret was the only daughter of George F and Arvilla (Doupe) Witt. She was born April 7, 1925 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her early years were spent on her paternal grandparent’s farm in Alberta where her father was employed in farming with his brothers. She attended elementary school there, spending the winter months with her grandparents. She adored her Grandmother Maud, who read to her, taught her to read and write and language skills before she was old enough to attend school. Summer months were spent with her parents, mostly living in a large tent while her father worked construction, where he was a heavy equipment operator and her mother the camp cook. Margaret loved the life of playing and roaming free with the other families’ children. During these years she also took long walks with her mother and learned to love the outdoors and wonders that nature provided. She nurtured that love of growing things her entire life.
Having no siblings of her own, her four uncles and many cousins became her beloved ‘siblings/friends’. She cherished each one of them and maintained a close relationship with each throughout her lifetime. Margaret’s sister/cousin, Barbara, was her faithful companion and support always.
At the age of thirteen Margaret and her parents moved to Montana. She attended middle school in Malta while her father was employed in the construction of Ft Peck Dam, then moving to Conrad where her parents were employed at the coalmines west of Conrad and later building Malmstrom Air Force Base. She graduated from Conrad High School.
Shortly after moving to Conrad she met Genevieve Tenny Harwood. They became fast friends and have remained so to this day. Margaret helped Genny’s father in his flower shop and was very happy there.
She met and married her husband Ite Ethan Tornga. They were married in Great Falls on September 4, 1942 and spent 60 wonderful years together filling their lives and those of their three children, extended family and everyone around them with love, laughter and music. They loved to dance and did so regularly. Margaret loved life!
Ethan’s siblings quickly became hers also and she cared deeply for them.
During the early years Margaret was employed as a telephone switchboard operator, later she worked for many years at Valentine’s Style Shop. For a while she helped in the home of Dr Sidney Hamilton and as he grew to know her, hired her as receptionist and assistant in his office. He taught her much about the care of patients and encouraged her to further her love of nursing. At 44 years of age, with no previous college education, she enrolled; attending Northern Montana College and Columbus School of Nursing, graduating with her Degree in Registered Nursing, maintaining a 4.0 grade average.
Margaret was an avid gardener, nurturing her flowers as she did her family and friends. She was a long-standing member of Conrad Garden Club. She became somewhat of an authority on the wildflowers of Montana and could identify most species.
Margaret loved the Lord and studied His word daily and strove to follow Him faithfully every day of her life. She was blessed with a gift of compassion to care for people.
Margaret was a major force in starting the home health program and bringing hospice to the area. She had a passion for nursing and loved every minute she spent in her career. In the years before she retired she worked out of Benefis Healthcare as a hospice nurse/caregiver in the local and outlying areas of Conrad.
Margaret is survived by her son, George (Cheryl) Tornga, and daughter, Ite Kaye (Phil) Broesder, both of Conrad; daughter-in-law, Laurie; grandchildren, Blake (Tammy), Kyle, Joban Takara, Calen, Brent (Mellissa), Emma, Brian, Brock (Kristi), Craig (Tawnya, Shara (Roger)) and Cavan; step-grandsons, Zack & Ryan; great-grandchildren, Allison, Natalie and Orlando.
The family suggests memorials to Peace Hospice or the PMC Extended Care Auxiliary.
Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneral chapel.com
Margaret was the only daughter of George F and Arvilla (Doupe) Witt. She was born April 7, 1925 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her early years were spent on her paternal grandparent’s farm in Alberta where her father was employed in farming with his brothers. She attended elementary school there, spending the winter months with her grandparents. She adored her Grandmother Maud, who read to her, taught her to read and write and language skills before she was old enough to attend school. Summer months were spent with her parents, mostly living in a large tent while her father worked construction, where he was a heavy equipment operator and her mother the camp cook. Margaret loved the life of playing and roaming free with the other families’ children. During these years she also took long walks with her mother and learned to love the outdoors and wonders that nature provided. She nurtured that love of growing things her entire life.
Having no siblings of her own, her four uncles and many cousins became her beloved ‘siblings/friends’. She cherished each one of them and maintained a close relationship with each throughout her lifetime. Margaret’s sister/cousin, Barbara, was her faithful companion and support always.
At the age of thirteen Margaret and her parents moved to Montana. She attended middle school in Malta while her father was employed in the construction of Ft Peck Dam, then moving to Conrad where her parents were employed at the coalmines west of Conrad and later building Malmstrom Air Force Base. She graduated from Conrad High School.
Shortly after moving to Conrad she met Genevieve Tenny Harwood. They became fast friends and have remained so to this day. Margaret helped Genny’s father in his flower shop and was very happy there.
She met and married her husband Ite Ethan Tornga. They were married in Great Falls on September 4, 1942 and spent 60 wonderful years together filling their lives and those of their three children, extended family and everyone around them with love, laughter and music. They loved to dance and did so regularly. Margaret loved life!
Ethan’s siblings quickly became hers also and she cared deeply for them.
During the early years Margaret was employed as a telephone switchboard operator, later she worked for many years at Valentine’s Style Shop. For a while she helped in the home of Dr Sidney Hamilton and as he grew to know her, hired her as receptionist and assistant in his office. He taught her much about the care of patients and encouraged her to further her love of nursing. At 44 years of age, with no previous college education, she enrolled; attending Northern Montana College and Columbus School of Nursing, graduating with her Degree in Registered Nursing, maintaining a 4.0 grade average.
Margaret was an avid gardener, nurturing her flowers as she did her family and friends. She was a long-standing member of Conrad Garden Club. She became somewhat of an authority on the wildflowers of Montana and could identify most species.
Margaret loved the Lord and studied His word daily and strove to follow Him faithfully every day of her life. She was blessed with a gift of compassion to care for people.
Margaret was a major force in starting the home health program and bringing hospice to the area. She had a passion for nursing and loved every minute she spent in her career. In the years before she retired she worked out of Benefis Healthcare as a hospice nurse/caregiver in the local and outlying areas of Conrad.
Margaret is survived by her son, George (Cheryl) Tornga, and daughter, Ite Kaye (Phil) Broesder, both of Conrad; daughter-in-law, Laurie; grandchildren, Blake (Tammy), Kyle, Joban Takara, Calen, Brent (Mellissa), Emma, Brian, Brock (Kristi), Craig (Tawnya, Shara (Roger)) and Cavan; step-grandsons, Zack & Ryan; great-grandchildren, Allison, Natalie and Orlando.
The family suggests memorials to Peace Hospice or the PMC Extended Care Auxiliary.
Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneral chapel.com
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