Margaret E. Christopher

Margaret Peterson Christopher, 99, of Lindsborg, died February 17, 2012, at Lindsborg Community Hospital, just one month shy of her 100th birthday. Mrs. Christopher was born Margaret Eleanor Lindahl on March 17, 1912, near Randolph, Kansas. She was the first child of John Eugene Lindahl and Hilda Louise (Sandquist) Lindahl. She was baptized and confirmed in the Mariadahl Lutheran Church, Cleburne Kansas.

Margaret graduated from Randolph Rural High School in 1930 and earned her Education Degree from McPherson College. She began her teaching career in Pratt Kansas. She also taught at Rose Hill, which was near Randolph, Kansas. At Rose Hill, her younger brother, Roland, was one of her favorite 8th grade students. Margaret then taught in Tampa, Kansas for two years. In 1937, Margaret moved to McPherson, Kansas and began teaching 2nd grade and music for the McPherson District. She was employed by the McPherson school system for a total of 26 years.

Margaret married Raymond E. Peterson May 31, 1942, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson Kansas. At this time, as it was customary, Margaret quit teaching after her marriage. However, the following year, McPherson school district sought her reemployment, making her the first married teacher to be employed by the McPherson school system. On March 25, 1945, her first son, Radean, was born. In February of 1952, another son, Jerry Lee, was born but died in infancy. Raymond died January 3, 1961. Margaret retired from teaching in 1974 and married Philip Christopher. He died May 3, 1982.

Margaret enjoyed traveling. She visited all forty-nine continental states, and she also flew to Germany. Two weeks upon returning from Germany, she flew to Sweden with her brother and sister with a goal of meeting relatives. She maintained contact with her relatives until her death. Margaret loved her wiener dogs. Pepper was good company and learned to like coffee soaked bread. Friends and family were also important to Margaret. Yahtzee and Uno were two of her favorite ways to spend time with friends on cold, winter evenings. She looked forward to visits with grandchildren and later on her great-grandchildren. Chapel, Bible study with coffee afterwards, and visits from her special friend, Jonette, were times she cherished. The only complaint about her longevity was that most of her friends were gone and that got lonely.

Margaret was a faithful member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson, Kansas. She was also an associate member of Bethany Lutheran Church after moving to Lindsborg in 1991.

Survivors include: son, Ray Peterson (Millie) of Salina; granddaughters, Sara Cottam (Troy) of Inman and Jami Breault (Bill) of Valley Center; and great-grandchildren, Brandon, Tyler, Madison, and Emily. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by a brother, Roland Lindahl, and a sister, Florence Lindahl.

Committal service will be at 9:30 AM, Tuesday, February 21, at Crestwood Memorial Park, McPherson. The memorial service will begin at 11:00 AM on Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson with Rev. Tim Leaf and Rev. Loren Mai presiding. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 PM Monday at Stockham Family Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Bethany Lutheran Church (Lindsborg), or Bethany Home (Lindsborg) in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Margaret E. Christopher please visit our Sympathy Store.