Margaret Helen Fudge
courtesy photo
Margaret Fudge
POLSON — Margaret Helen Fudge passed away on June 2, 2015, following a stroke. Her husband, Charles W. Fudge of Polson, daughter Julia Short of Layton, Utah, and daughter Amy Tate of Woodbridge, Virginia, were by her side. Their first child, Joseph W. Fudge, was born in 1961 with severe birth defects and died eleven years later. Julia J. Fudge was born Nov. 10, 1962, followed by Amy S. Fudge on April 19, 1965. Margaret and Charlie were married 56 years.
Margaret was born Oct. 28, 1935, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Helen (Hodsdon) Leavitt and Edward Townsend Leavitt. She grew up in LaGrange, Illinois, and like her parents, attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Margaret graduated in 1957 with a degree in Home Economics with an emphasis in household equipment. She worked for McCall’s Magazine in New York City.
Charlie graduated from Iowa State but wanted to enroll in forestry at Montana University in Missoula, Montana, after his Navy tour ended. While sitting on a Coney Island beach, Charlie asked if Margaret would support him. She answered, “Yes.” Charlie’s Navy tour ended and the two married on Dec. 27, 1958, in LaGrange, Illinois.
Their life with the U. S. Forest Service began in 1961 at the Ant Flat Ranger Station near Fortine, Montana. The next year they moved to the Sylvanite Ranger Station, also on the Kootenai National Forest. As a city-raised girl, Margaret soon adjusted to rural living. She learned Western vocabulary (cricks, rigs, over yonder, dippin’ snoose, corked boots), cooking wild meat, and the rest of Western flavor. She lived in a home drawn and designed on a cedar shingle, boarded skunks under the house, used crank telephones, and used electricity produced by a WWII destroyer escort generator. The city girl took all this with humor, grace, interest, and challenge. She lived in faith that a grocery store would no longer be a “fur piece away.”
Those dreams were answered when the family moved to Deer Lodge, Montana, for eight years. Margaret sewed dresses for their two daughters, served as a Girl Scout leader, led Jayceen projects, and enjoyed small town living. Lifelong friends remain there. Next it was back to the country at Ninemile Ranger Station on the Lolo National Forest. She learned the history Ninemile played in wild land firefighting in the 1930s and found new neighbors to enjoy.
After living in Missoula for the next five years, Charlie, Margaret, and Amy moved to northern Virginia while Charlie worked in the Forest Service national office. This was a great opportunity to travel extensively along the East Coast, viewing diverse sites and enjoy many cultural events. Margaret especially appreciated the shopping opportunities and unique markets.
Their final Forest Service tour led them to Arvada, Colorado, where Charlie retired.
They could now fulfill their dream of world travel. Together they visited 34 countries. Margaret really loved the shopping challenges. Highlights included an earthquake in New Zealand, breakfasts in Scandinavia, staying in the U.S. Embassy in Bern, touring Warsaw with two couples who escaped the Holocaust, sleeping in a tent in the Sahara Desert, and visiting the grave of her brother (Ralph Leavitt) in Eastern France. He had been captured by the Germans and died only five days before the end of WWII. Margaret and Charlie moved to Polson in 1993.
Margaret loved the simple pleasures of creating a home and serving her family through her talents of hospitality, teaching, counseling, nursing, sewing, cooking, tending flowers, and making jam. She led a full life as a caring mother, wonderful wife, creative homemaker, friend of many, and a believer in God’s grace. In her later years Margaret faced mounting health issues with grace, acceptance, and a positive outlook. She never complained nor exhibited bitterness. Margaret lived for her husband, children and grandchildren.
Margaret’s mother and father; son; brothers Ralph and Edward (Ted) Leavitt; and sister Carol Leavitt Mullen; precede her in death.
Margaret is survived by daughters Julia (Geoff Short) and Amy (Sam Tate); her brother, Gordon (Margaret); nieces Nancy Wilbur, Kathy Beaudry, Cindy Donath, Diane Millette; her nephews Ralph Leavitt, David Mullen, Don Mullen, Bill Mullen and Andy Mullen. Margaret’s surviving grandchildren include Rebecca Pica, Russell Pica, Avery Short, Caleb Short, Joseph Tate, and Jillian Tate.
Margaret’s memorial service begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 11, 2015, at the Presbyterian Church, 301 Fourth Ave. E, Polson, MT 59860. A reception will follow. Please make memorial donations to: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 911 W Fifth Ave., Spokane, WA 99204. Messages of condolences may be sent to: TheLakeFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
