Margaret Schafer died on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, ND, at the age of 100.

Margaret Schafer was born on September 13, 1915, in Sidney, MT, to Richard and Frances (Link) Hass. She received her teaching certificate from Montana Normal School in Dillon, MT. She then taught 1st grade in Plentywood, MT, for 3 years.

She was united in marriage to William M. Schafer in Plentywood, MT, on May 27, 1939. They lived in Miles City, MT, prior to moving to New Rockford, ND, in 1942, where they raised their 8 children.

Margaret was a member of St. John’s Altar Society, Eddy County Homemakers and Hobby Club. She was an avid reader and a creative crafter. Her love of yarn and knitting led her to owning and managing The Yarn Shop in New Rockford. Margaret was a life-long learner who valued education and kept abreast of current events. She had exceptional organizational skills and practiced the art of re-purposing items before it was fashionable. These life-skills she passed on to her children.

She is survived by 3 daughters Sheryl (Pat) Rayome, Kewaunee, WI, Mary (Stan) Ripplinger, New Rockford, Ellen Loux, Delano, MN; 3 sons William J. (Lois), West Fargo, Vernon (Julie) and Robert (Jessie Lies), both of New Rockford; 2 daughters-in-law Cassandra Schafer, West Fargo, and Donna Schafer, Anaconda, MT. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband William, who died November 2, 2004; two sons, Richard and Donald; sisters Olga “Babe” Peterson and Jane Lewis Landigreen; brothers Gordon, David, Rodney, and Gerald; niece Valerie; nephews Richard and Kenneth; son-in-law Greg Loux; and grandsons Eric Schafer and Stephen Rayome.