In 1942, because of her father's ill health, the family moved to southern California. They joined her aunt, uncle, and cousins, and lived with them in Hawthorne, CA, for several months before moving into a small house in Manhattan Beach, CA. As teenagers, she and her sisters were thrilled to live right on the sand facing the ocean. Because of the house's location, they had to use blackout curtains, and the United States Coast Guard patrolled the beach after dark. The girls got acquainted with the soldiers, of course, and brought them donuts! During this time, Maggie worked at a plant called California Flyers where she was a rivet bucker on B 17 construction.
In the year of her graduation from EI Segundo High School, her father took a job in Fresno, CA, with Roma Winery, and the family joined him here after graduation. Maggie took a job as an elevator operator for PG&E, which she loved! She later applied for and got a job as payroll typist, even though she had flunked typing in high school! Her father told her just to say she could do the job! She recalls that, "The first few months were interesting!"
It was at PG&E she met Dale Brengman, a handsome United States Air Force second lieutenant. They were married in 1946. Dale built a small one bedroom, one bath home for them to move into. They were blessed with two children.
Later in life, Margaret went back to school, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching and bilingual credentials. She enjoyed teaching at Aynesworth School, where she made many lifelong friends. She retired after teaching about 20 years, and began to enjoy her great love for traveling. She used the energy and health she had to travel all around the world. As she approached her nineties, she was forced to cut back on her travels, but enjoyed her regular trips to Fig Garden Village for coffee and the Banjo Band performances.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Lynn Warmerdam and her husband Greg; son, Russ Brengman; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.
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