Margaret ‘Muggs’ Norsten July 15, 1931 – March 13, 2010

WILLMAR — Margaret E. “Muggs” Norsten, 78, of Willmar, died Saturday at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church, rural Willmar. Burial will be in Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Margaret E. “Muggs” Norsten was born July 15, 1931, in Willmar, the daughter of Oscar and Dorothy (Baker) Johnson. She was a lifelong resident of Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School in the class of 1949.

On July 22, 1949, Margaret was united in marriage to R. Wilkie Norsten in Willmar. To this union three children were born. They lived in Willmar and worked together in their family business, Norsten Transfer and Supply. Margaret also worked as a waitress at Champlin Café.

Margaret was past president and member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 44 years, past president and member of the Willmar Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, a member of Willmar Home Extension Group and the Willmar Snow Skippers Club. She also volunteered at Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar Regional Treatment Center and with the Red Cross Bloodmobile. In her earlier years, Margaret played softball for a women’s softball team.

Margaret was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and loved visiting with her relatives in Norway. She enjoyed embroidery, knitting, crocheting, holiday crafts, gardening, canning and baking. She especially enjoyed coffee parties and was famous for her chocolate cake with fluffy white frosting. Margaret was very musical, singing, playing violin, piano and organ. She and Wilkie would go to Spicer every Monday night for old-time music. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, especially Arizona during the winter months. They would also drive to Spencer, Iowa, to meet her brother and his wife, who would drive from Omaha, Neb., and meet for coffee. Margaret was a wonderful caregiver to her husband when he became ill. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She will be truly missed.

Surviving are her children, Nancy Norsten of Willmar, Gary (and Ginny) Norsten of Willmar, Vicki (and Vern) Kortgard of Willmar; two grandchildren, Kristen (and Luke) Cruze and Logan Ray Kortgard; great-grandson, Wyatt Cruze. Also surviving are her siblings, Myron Johnson of Plattsmouth, Neb., Ardell (and Arnie) Friehl of Willmar; several nieces, nephews and special friends, Cathy Gronli of Spicer and Laila Mohagen of Paynesville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, R. Wilkie, on April 12, 2007; sister-in-law, Betty Johnson; and brothers-in-law, Donald, Harvey and Wendell Norsten and Willard Baker.

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