Margery Booke

Margery Booke

Margery Ann Booke passed away on July 14, 2021, at home, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on March 12, 1935, in Dickinson, North Dakota, to A.F. “Tony” Putschler and Ann Reiner Putschler. On Oct. 2, 1954, she married Gene Booke and, in 1956, they came to Billings. Gene passed away on Feb. 1, 1987.

Marge lived her first years in Gladstone, North Dakota. She and her sisters spent a lot of time on her grandparents’ farm where the original schoolhouse was located. Her grandparents were a musical family. Being born in the Hungary-Germany area, her dad’s instrument of choice was the accordion and polka music. In her younger years, Marge enjoyed playing piano. Over the years, she collected countless records, cassette tapes and CDs of her favorite musicians. She was thrilled when she moved into the house on Winchell Lane to learn that Lawrence Welk had been in the house when his niece lived there. She was still watching reruns of the Lawrence Welk shows on Saturday evenings with her sons.

Margery was a true daddy’s girl, and so proud of him. He ran a successful gas company and started the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department. The family moved to Dickinson when she began school. In true fashion, her dad continued volunteering for the fire department, later becoming Fire Chief as the department grew into a paid firefighting force. Her dad continued to hone his accordion skills and Marge recounted many nights where they always ended in a polka celebration with friends and guests. She recalled one night where these really tall, young men stayed at their house while traveling. Later, she realized they were players from the Minneapolis Lakers making the move to become the Los Angeles Lakers. Dickinson was on the way and her dad was a good host. As a wife and mother of three sons, she became an avid sports fan. She enjoyed watching basketball, football, golf and especially tennis.

Keeping an organized and immaculate home for herself and her family was very important to her. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading nonfiction books about the west. She also loved wordsearches and crossword puzzles. She completed at least 100 puzzle books. Marge enjoyed attending church at Holy Rosary and visiting with her friends there until the parish was closed.

Her parents, all three sisters and husband preceded her in death. Surviving are her sons, David (Connie) of Nashua, Michael of Billings, Kevin (Lori) of Billings; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice for their support during these last few months. We would especially like to thank Manda, Barb, Ashley and Sabrina for their kindness. She looked forward to their visits.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, July 19, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Meals on Wheels in care of the Adult Resource Alliance at 1505 Avenue D, Billings, MT 59102.