Margareta Elvira (Hanson) Pfeifer

Margareta Elvira (Hanson) Pfeifer 96, died peacefully on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at the Coulee Medical Center Long Term Care in Grand Coulee, Wash. Margaret, or “Grandma” as she was called, was born July 16, 1916, in Chicago, Ill. The daughter of Swedish immigrants, Margaret lost her mother in the 1918 flu epidemic. She was the last of her two brothers and one sister.

Margaret was a loving mother and grand-mother. She was quiet and shy, but lit up with a beautiful smile when spoken to. Margaret suffered with a debilitating disorder most of her life, which robbed her of her full potential. She loved handicraft work, including making many afghans as well as quilts with the senior sewing group. She also was a good homemaker, great cook and baker, especially of cinnamon rolls. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law for many years, helping them in the care of their home and raising their two children, Debra (Whitman) and Scott Bailey.

Margaret was preceded in death by her mother Clara; father Louis Henry Hanson; sister Ellen Andersson; brothers: Carl and John; husband Frederick Keith Pfeifer, and son Keith John.

Survivors include daughter Mary Jane (Jim) Bailey of Electric City; son Donald (Gloria) Pfeifer of Danville, Ill .; daughter-in-law Esther Pfeifer of Silverdale; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; plus numerous nephews and nieces.

A 9 a.m. funeral Mass for Margaret was held Monday, July 23, at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Grand Coulee, with interment following at Spring Canyon Cemetery.

Her family requests that donations be made in Margaret’s memory to the Long Term Care Unit of the Coulee Community Hospital, 411 Fortuyn Road, Grand Coulee, Wash. 99133-8718.

Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, WA, is honored to serve Margaret’s family. Friends and family are invited to sign Margaret’s on-line register book at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com.