Marguerite Helena Kjelgaard

October 22, 1934 - March 17, 2021

Marguerite Helena Kjelgaard (1934-2021) Marguerite “Maggie” Kjelgaard, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully at home on March 17, 2021. She was surrounded by her loved ones as she passed. Maggie was born October 22, 1934, as Marguerite Helena Every, in Endicott, New York. The daughter of Homer and Lena Margaret Every, Maggie was one of nine daughters in a family of fifteen children. She graduated from Union-Endicott High School in 1952, and was married to her sweetheart, John R. Kjelgaard, on October 9, 1953. Settling down in the beautiful hamlet of Maine, in upstate NY, John and Maggie raised seven children together. Mrs. Kjelgaard was active in her community and loved to serve others. She was elected to, and served on the Maine-Endwell School District Board of Education for several years in the 1970s and 1980s, and was also elected to serve as the Town Supervisor of the Town of Maine, NY for three consecutive terms. Maggie earned the trust and confidence of those whom she served, and will always be remembered as a deeply-principled, honest, fair, and ethical public official. In later years, Maggie retired from public office and humbly continued to serve others as a registered CNA. With her husband, John, Maggie retired and eventually made her way out west. First to Webster City, IA, then Brigham City, UT, and finally to the Phoenix, AZ area, where she lived out the remainder of her days. A passionate lover of music, the arts, the outdoors, and reading, Maggie also loved to travel all over the United States and Canada. She was a faithful and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and was sealed to her husband for time and all eternity on June, 27, 1992 in the Washington D.C. Temple. Maggie is survived by her husband, John, and her seven children: Robert Kjelgaard (Maria) of Balagtas, Philippines - Martha Henriksen (David) of Salt Lake City, UT - John Kjelgaard, Jr. (Marian), of Malad, ID – Christine Drawdy (David), of Wesley Chapel, FL – Karen Kjelgaard (Bill Buswell), of Deary, ID – Nancyrae Kjelgaard, of Phoenix, AZ, and Jimm Kjelgaard, Sr. (Michelle), of Bountiful, UT. She is also survived by her siblings: Robert Every (Barbara), Martha Vadnais, Linda Browne (John), Susan Gentile (Edward), and Sherry Every. In addition, she is survived by twenty-one grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. Maggie was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Lena Every, her siblings: Connie, Wanda, Homer, Ivy, Ivan, Mary, Joan, James, and John, and her grandson, Sabu Stroman. The Kjelgaard family expresses profound love and appreciation to Hospice At Home, and their brilliant staff, for rendering such tender and compassionate service to Maggie in her final days. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations to be made in Maggie’s name, to Hospice At Home, via their website: www.hospicehomeaz.com.