Margaret Griffin

Funeral Services for Margaret E. Griffin, 99, of Dickinson will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2011 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson with Deb Howie, officiating. Burial will follow in the Medora Cemetery.


Visitation will be Monday from 9:00 a.m. to until service time.


Margaret passed away Friday, April 22 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson.


Margaret Gunkel was the middle of 7 children born to Carl G. and Elizabeth (Vassie) Gunkel on the original Gunkel home place, S Sec 34 T 138 R 101, Billings County, ND. She either walked or went by sleigh or buggy with her siblings to the Matteson School, 3 miles north of their home and here she attended all 8 grades of elementary school. Her mother being insistent that the children receive an education, she then attended Belfield High School and is the last surviving member of her graduating class. After graduation, she went on to teach a few years of school for the sum of $40.00 per month plus room and board; then one day, a fellow with a black hat, rode into the Gunkel yard and thus the courtship of Melvin and Margaret Griffin began and soon followed by marriage. To this union, three children would be born: Raymond, Bud and Glenda Jean. Her parents had not given her a middle name so she chose Eleanor and was known as Margaret E. Griffin. While living 12 miles from the home place and married to Melvin, she states in a letter that she thought she would be unable (because of the times) to return home to see her brother, Karl, who was home on leave from the service, during WWII. Little by little, Melvin and Margaret started a ranching career together that would be their lifetime work. They ended their ranching career on the same ranch Margaret was born. It is now the home of her daughter, Glenda, and husband Connie Redmond. Margaret would teach her two sons at home when school was unavailable. Margaret was known as the jelly maker, clothes mender, and loving, caring mother and grandmother to her family and friends. She was always an avid listener and made all feel that “your problems and concerns were the most important thing in the world”.  She dearly loved her flowers, garden, and birds of all kinds. She would also gamble if given the opportunity. At age 92, she rode in a hot air balloon over all the area she and Melvin had first ranched in, along the Little Missouri River south of Medora ND. She was a member of the Belfield Lutheran Church Ladies Aid, Neighborhood Birthday Club and the Belfield Senior Citizens.


Margaret is survived by son, Bud and his wife, Laura; daughter, Glenda and her husband, Connie Redmond; daughter-in- law, Mary and her husband, Kenny Abrahamson;. 7 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 4 step-great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, plus numerous nieces, nephews and friends.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin; a son, Raymond; a grandson, Dallas; 2 brothers, Eugene and Karl and 2 sisters, Mildred Connell and Iza Doering.


Now it is time to turn out the light and go to sleep.


Memorials may be given to a charity of your choice.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: April 25, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Monday, Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson