Marjorie L. Waller

Marjorie Waller passed away peacefully on June 30, 2017, with her family and kitty, Muffy, by her side.

Marjorie was born April 14, 1931, in Great Falls. She was the only child of George C. Moline and Doris Bjornstad Moline. She was raised in Great Falls and attended McKinley School, Paris Gibson Junior High, and graduated as a valedictorian from Great Falls High School in 1949. She attended the University of Idaho, where she studied music education. When she married Edwin J. Waller in 1951, she gave up her education to work so her husband could finish school. She worked in the Public Relations Office at MSC in Bozeman during this time. From Bozeman, Marge and Ed moved to Ithaca, New York, where he received his master's degree. Their first child, Pam, was born in Ithaca. Job opportunities took them to Wolf Point, where their second daughter, Karen, was born. They then settled in Billings. She stayed in her home until 2016, when she moved to West Park Village.

Marge was employed by the Billings Office of Lincoln National Life Insurance for 23 years and retired Dec. 31, 1986.

Marge loved music and was a violinist with the Billings Symphony Orchestra from 1957 to 1967. She was also a member of the Billings Community Orchestra.

After retirement, she volunteered at St. Vincent Hospital, surgery waiting room, until 2010. Marge and Ed also enjoyed traveling in retirement, going on cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean, and spending some winters in Arizona. They loved fishing and camping during the summer months with their grandchildren. Yellowstone Park was a favorite place. She also enjoyed caring for her granddaughter Claire when she was born in 1992.

Marge was a member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd since 1958. She was active in Sarah Circle and many church projects.

One of her true loves in life was for animals, befriending many stray and lost animals, and she was a friend of all the neighborhood animals. Friends said that she ran the neighborhood animal shelter. She also loved to cook for family and friends.

One of the thrills of her lifetime was her trips to Sweden in 1997 and 1999. She was able to locate and visit relatives there.

She is survived by her daughters, Pamela (Doug) Meissner of Billings and Karen Fliger of Billings. She has five grandchildren: Mark (Amy) Meissner of Manhattan, Montana, Ryan Meissner of Bozeman, Adam Meissner (Emily) of Dallas, Jeffrey Meissner (Laura) of Chicago and Claire Hutchinson (Rob) of Billings. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Luke Meissner, Jake Meissner, Brooke Meissner and Avaley Hutchinson. Her surviving cousins are Doris Erlandson Prater and George Erlandson and his wife Vi of Great Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband Ed on Feb. 7, 1996.

In lieu of flowers, she requests any memorials be sent to area animal groups: Rimrock Humane Society, 908 Main St., Roundup, MT 59072; Help for Homeless Pets, PO Box 1282, Billings, MT 59103; Animal Welfare League, 910 Sixth Ave., Laurel, MT 59044; Last Chance Cat Sanctuary, 2113 Walter Road, Billings, MT 59105; or to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1108 24th St. W., Billings, MT 59102.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 14, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. A reception will follow at the church.