Dorothy Margaret Thayer, known as Marge by all of us who knew and loved her, passed away this spring at her home at 19 Harrison Avenue, just short of her 99th birthday. Born in Butte, where her father worked for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, she moved with her family to Helena at the age of two.
Marge was a graduate of Helena High School and a graduate of the University of West Virginia, where she majored in French. She was a long-time employee of Western Life Insurance Company. Thomas Patterson, who became the company’s president, said of her that she and her sister Kay, who also worked for the company, could have run it with “hands tied behind their backs!”
Marge combined her keen intelligence with artistic sensibilities which she displayed in many ways. She was a poet who wrote her Christmas card messages in poetry. She copied a children’s book, illustrating it to give to Lansing Shepard, the grandson of her dear friend, Kathy Patterson. Her artistic nature could be recognized in her garden in which she spent hours each summer. Sweet peas were a favorite.
Although she had no children of her own, she loved all children and her sweet and witty personality endeared her to them as well. Marge supported the Children’s Library in Helena, in memory of her sister.
Marge was quiet and never self-aggrandizing; she left it to those of us still living to share a memory of this extraordinary woman who was dearly loved by her friends and family. Marge was pre-deceased by her brothers, Ted, Butch, and Vic, and by her sister, Kay, as well as her favorite nephew, Rick. She is survived by Rick’s son, Scott Thayer, of Massachusetts.
Marge’s ashes will be interred in the family plot in Butte. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com
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Becky Powell says
Marge was a wonderful woman. She had quick wit well into her 90’s. I loved visiting with her. She sent me a note with an old punchcard in it saying it was a “hanging chad” about the time of the Florida mess. Always some note of humor. She lived a good, long life.
Bill Hallinan says
Dear Thayer Family,
We are sorry for your loss of Ms. Thayer in April. We learned of her death in October because of the estate sale. She was one of two centenarian that lived in our neighborhood. Mrs. Worden lived on hill on Clarke. We occasionally saw Ms. Thayer when she was working in her beautiful garden. I wish we could have known her better given her knowledge of Helena, love of mysteries, and kindness.
Sincerely,
Bill Hallinan and Marita Martiniak
Joanne Albanese says
To Scott: I wish I knew your Great Aunt because she seen like one of A kind. Her kindness to set the scholarships for her charitable work takes this kind of peson like your Great Aunt, she is a very Passion Woman and I’m so sorry I never got to meet her because I would like her Scott, she live a Wealthy life of helping others that made her Weathy than any money in the world she was very sharp be very proud which I know you and the family are. Remember she will be greatly missed by all the people who Love her.
Pete and I both will pay for you and the family.
Love
Joanne
and
Pete
Martin & Bette Weinstein says
For Scott Thayer and family,
Our condolences on the loss of Aunt Marge,
Sincerely,
Marty and Bette
Scott Thayer says
Dorothy Margaret Thayer was born in 1912 and died in 2011. She was the last of four children born to Dorothy and Louis Thayer. Great Aunt Marge did not come from a wealthy family so she appreciated everything she had and cherished her family. I suppose her giving nature came from not having much as a child. Aunt Marge was a very charitable person setting up 3 different scholarships for literary students. She had a passion for writing that was only second to her passion for gardening. Having been born in Butte and raised in Helena Montana she has strong roots and feelings for her home state. Aunt Marge was a very quite person keeping to herself, only talking with the people she felt comfortable with. Aunt Marge although very quite was as sharp as they come, she could talk about current world events with the best of them. She always had a thrust for knowledge. Some of my fondest memories of Aunt Marge were down on her brothers (my Grandfather’s) farm in Delaware raking leaves into large piles almost as tall as I was, and then jumping into them and rolling around under the tall oak trees in the backyard. I will always cherish those memories of her and I plan to share her legacy with my children in hopes that some day they will do the same. I feel that passing down family history from generation to generation is the key to keeping us connected to the past, after all our past has carved our future. I know that Aunt Marge is looking down on us and is now in good company with her Father, Mother, Brothers and favorite nephew Ricky (my father). God Bless You. I will miss you very much.
Shirlee Wirth says
Sorry to learn of the passing of Marge. Our family has known Marge,Kay, and Ervin Chester for years. I don’t understand why her passing was kept secret until now. Again our condolences to your family.
Shirlee & Steppen Wirth