Margaret E. Gilseth

St. Charles, Margaret E. Gilseth, 88, of St. Charles died Sunday, June 10, 2007 at Whitewater Golden Living Center in St. Charles.Margaret Eleanor Chrislock was born March 31, 1919, in Wanamingo, Minnesota. She grew up there, attending country school. She graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1936 and from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, in 1940, with a BA degree. From 1941-1945 she taught English and music in Clare City, South Dakota, and Mantorville, Minnesota. In 1945/46 she taught in Ferndale, Washington. In June 1, of 1946, in Seattle Washington, she married Walter Gilseth who had just returned from military service in the Pacific. Remaining in the state, she attended the University of Washington and continued to teach at Lynden, Washington. In 1959 she and her husband left for Tanzania, East Africa, where they taught four years at Marangu Teacher Training College on Mt. Kilimanjaro. After returning, she received a MA degree in Christian Education from Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago. In 1964, both she and her husband taught in Cottonwood, Minnesota and finally St. Charles, Minnesota, until retiring. At this time she began teaching Norwegian in the Community Education Program in Rochester. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, St. Charles, being Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years. She was a member of Sons of Norway, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and Friends of the Library in St. Charles. Her volunteer work was with Head-Start Children and delivering Meals on Wheels. She is the author of four books, "Julia's Children," "Silver Linings, Living with Cancer," "Fjord Magic," and "Home on Kilimanjaro." In 1993 she was awarded the Augsburg College Distinguish Alumna Citation. In 2003 she was installed in Winona County's Hall of Fame. She enjoyed the out-of-doors, camping and bird-watching. Survivors include her husband Walter, a son Steven (Laurie) Gilseth of St. Charles, two granddaughters, Anandi and Roshni Gilseth, two sisters; Helen (George) Follingstad of Minneapolis and Ruth Severson of Santa Rosa, CA and a sister-in-law, Valborg Chrislock of Minneapolis. She was preceded in death by a brother Carl Chrislock. Funeral Services will be 11AM Thursday at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Charles. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, St. Charles. Friends may call from 5-8 PM Wednesday at Hoff Funeral Home, St. Charles. Friends may also call one hour before services at the church. Please sign Margaret's on-line guestbook or view her Tribute Video at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com:80/?id=9590