Margaret E. Siefke Halvorson

Margaret E. Siefke Halvorson, born Margaret Elaine McIntyre, 89, went home to be with the Lord on March 18, 2025. 

She was born April 23, 1935, at Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, to Daniel and Lillian McIntyre. Margaret lived her childhood years in Drumheller and married the love of her life, William (Bill) Siefke, in Drumheller on June 8, 1953, and promptly moved to Libby, Montana with Bill on June 9, 1953, where she lived all but the last eight years of her life.

Margaret grew up on a fox ranch her parents ran. She loved telling stories of her father working in the coal mine, using miniature ponies that he raised, to bring the coal out of the mine. 

Margaret was trained in classical music on the violin from a young age, and each year had to pass written tests to continue playing. She took part in competitions in Alberta, and in 1947, won a silver medal for the whole province of Alberta, a big honor. Margaret, her mother and sister, Helen, even formed a band and played Scandinavian music at dances in the area. Margaret especially enjoyed playing in the one room schools all over the county. 

Another favorite for her was the Ukranian Hall. Margaret loved to tell people that the faster the music, the more the people danced, and the more the floor shook. Margaret spent many happy and joyful hours playing violin to audiences. Margaret was extremely proud of her Canadian heritage and was also grateful to have become an American citizen.

After Margaret moved to Libby, she and Bill built their life together, and had five children. Bill passed from leukemia in 1969. Margaret met and married Donald Kimberlin in 1970. Don passed in 1974. Margaret later married Virnie Mack in 1976; that marriage ended in 1980. Margaret would later marry Jessie Halvorson in 1987, who passed in 1989.

Margaret worked for the Forest service for 23 years, retiring in 1996. She worked with timber contracts, selling timber at auction, kept track of all timber hauled to mills, and finalized billing and closing of the sales. She loved her job and took pride in helping the logging community of Libby.

In addition to working a full-time job, and raising her family, she was extremely active in her church, St. Joseph Catholic church in Libby. She wore many hats in her religious endeavors. She taught Sunday school, was a Eucharistic Minister, and a Chaplain at the Libby Care Center and St. John's Lutheran Hospital.

In 1992, she tried to enter the convent with the Sisters of Humility of Mary in Des Moines, Iowa. The convent turned Margaret down, but she was able to take an associate place with Catholic community Congregation of the Humility in Des Moines, which she was very thankful of. She became friends with Sister Ursula there, and they maintained a close friendship until Sister's passing.

Retirement for Margaret was not a time to slow down. After Margaret's retirement, she worked for Hospice and did private home health care, while still being active in her church. She sang in the choir and volunteered in the kitchen at the church, helping with funeral dinners and other special dinners put on at the church. She volunteered for Habitat for Humanity on the Solution Committee, which decided who would receive a Habitat home. 

She also loved to quilt and crochet. Margaret later worked at the Kootenai Valley Christian School as a cook. Margaret also provided care for her grandchildren, Boe, Sheniqua and Ashley. She spoke of all of the people she took care of with kindness and affection.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents Daniel and Lillian; siblings Milferd McIntyre, Ethel Durnford, Florence Palmer, Robert McIntyre and Gordon McIntyre; daughter Christine Siefke McGuire; and husbands, William (Bill) Siefke, Donald Kimberlin and Jessie Halvorson.

Margaret is survived by her sisters Helen Meleshko, Diane Simpson and life partner Larry; and brother Douglas and wife Sandra McIntyre. Margaret is also survived by her children Wanda and husband David Grosche, Deborah Pement and life partner Mark Zink, Daniel Siefke and Milferd and wife Ann Siefke; grandchildren Brandy Pement, Travis Pement, Richard Zink, Boe Siefke, Ashley Dryden, Adam Siefke, Andrew Siefke, David Grosche and Kirstine Grosche; step-grandchildren Trevor Riddle, Sheniqua Riddle and Brent Wiegele; great-grandchildren Gabriel Pement, Curtis Zink and Madison and Kinsley Dryden; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, including her Canadian family. 

Margaret considered her greatest passion in life to be her children and grandchildren. She loved her family very much, and would do whatever she could to help them in life, as can be attested to by many family members.

Services for Margaret will be Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby, Montana, with Rosary at 12:30 p.m. and Mass of the Resurrection at 1 p.m.

Local arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby, Montana. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.