Margaret Randall

Funeral Services for Margaret Oline Randall, 93, of Dickinson are Saturday, November 18, 2006 at Stevenson Mischel-Olson Chapel in Dickinson. Burial will be in the Dickinson Cemtery. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 17, 2006 from 1:00 p. m. – 9:00 p. m. at the chapel. Margaret passed away at St. Luke’s Home in Dickinson, N. D. on Nov. 14, 2006. She was born to Olaf and Rose (Carlson) Oleson on the family homestead near Pequot Lakes, Minn. , on Nov. 2, 1913. Margaret grew up on their dairy farm, attending grade school at the local rural school. She graduated from high school in 1929 at nearby Pine River, Minn. Upon completion of a one-year rural education program at Pine River, she taught at a rural school for one year before entering St. Cloud State Teachers College (now St. Cloud State University), where she graduated in 1935 with a degree in secondary education with a major in English. After teaching in Minnesota for two years, she accepted a job at a school in Trenton, N. D. in 1937. While she was teaching in Trenton, she met James Randall, a school administer from Buford, N. D. , at a teachers convention. They were married in Fargo on Dec. 27, 1940. When her three children were young, she stayed home to raise them and worked as a substitute teacher. When they were older, she returned to work full-time as the assistant superintendent of schools in Stark County. In the late 1960s, she returned to public schools as a reading specialist prior to her retirement in1975. During the 1960s, she was one of the first persons in the Dickinson area to acquire a reading specialist certificate. In addition to her teaching, Margaret maintained a life-long interest in music. An accomplished pianist, she earned her spending money while in college as an accompanist. Later she taught piano lessons and participated in community music events wherever she lived. For many years she entertained the residents of assisted living and nursing home facilities in Dickinson with her playing. She could play any tune with which she was familiar without music, making her popular with residents, who would request a favorite number. Throughout her life, she was an active community volunteer, serving as president at various times of numerous organizations. With her husband, she organized the American Association of Retired Persons in Dickinson. After retirement, she remained active as a community volunteer with a particular interest in serving as a tutor in area schools as well as in the adult literacy program. One of her favorite groups was the inmates at the Dickinson Law Enforcement Center, whom she regarded as kids who had lacked opportunities but were committed to learning to read. Margaret received many awards in recognition of her volunteer work, including being named Volunteer of the Year for the Dickinson community. She was an active member of the Christian Fellowship of Dickinson. She is survived by her children, Francis Randall of Racine, Wis. ; Mary Mataitis (Edward) of Rochester, Minn. ; and Margaret ?Peggy? Johnson (Andrew) of Rolla. She is also survived by three granddaughters. Andrea Johnson of Minot; Marika Mataitis of Roseville, Minn. ; and Margaret ?Maggie? Kaser (David) of Pine Island, Minn. ; and one grandson, Alexander ?Alex? Johnson (Jeanna) of Grand Forks. In addition, she is survived by a great grandson, Logan Johnson of Grand Forks. She is also survived by a sister, Jean Etzell, Long Prairie, Minn. and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Randall, in 1986; her parents, her brother John (who died in infancy), her sister Ruth Oleson, and her daughter-in-law Jodie Randall.


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Burial Date: November 18, 2006
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Saturday, Stevenson Mischel-Olson Chapel, Dickinson