Margaret Swenson passed away peacefully on April 2, 2023, at the Northern Montana Care Center.  Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Megan Hoewisch officiating.  Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.  Margaret's family has suggested memorial donations be made in her memory to First Lutheran Church, the North-Central Montana Senior Center, the Havre-Hill County Library Foundation, or a charity of the donor's choice.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Margaret was born August 3, 1923, in Chester to Emil and Carrie (Holmquist) Jabes. She graduated from Chester High School and furthered her education at Northern Montana College. After receiving her teacher's certificate, she taught school until their oldest son, Lowell, was born. She worked at home and substitute taught until Bruce and Lowell finished college. Afterwards, she worked as a Librarian in the Havre School District until her retirement.

While in Havre, she met Wilbur Swenson and they married May 28, 1945, in Joplin, Montana. The couple spent the rest of their lives in Havre except one year in Helena where Wilbur was working.

Margaret was very active in First Lutheran Church activities, especially making lefse and working at the annual lutefisk dinner. She was an avid reader and member of the Havre-Hill County Library Foundation.  Wilbur and Margaret enjoyed square dancing as members of the local Jeans & Janes club and took great pleasure in traveling to various designations in their RV. Both of them were familiar faces working the Kiwanis food booth at the fair.

She was preceded in death by her parent; her husband, Wilbur; sisters, Violet Broadhurst and Evelyn Eggen; and brothers, Woodrow and William.

Survivors include sons Lowell (Karen) and Bruce of Havre; sister, Pearl Wicks of Chester; grandchildren, Geoff (Fran Ward) of London, U.K. and Carly of St. Paul, MN; and several nephews and nieces.