Margaret Witholt

Margarete was born to Anna Bergmann Herden and Fritz Herden in Bochium Germany and was raised in Marl, Germany. Fritz was the son of German horse breeders on the Rhine and Anna was the daughter of a coal miner. She was their first daughter and was followed by a son (who died in childhood) and two sisters Friedchen and Erna.

It was post World War I when Margarete was born into a turbulent time of change. She was a child of a culture that was equipped to build character through the hard times that came with world events that centred on diverse international tensions and poverty.

Setting the tone of the culture Margarete was born into, a time of hyper inflation which occurred in the early 20s triggered by WW1 reparation payments. This meant that Germans carried $20,000,000, 50,000,000, 1,000,000,000, and 5,000,000,000 mark (German currency at that time) bills. These are what Germans would have carried to purchase basic goods like bread, meat, and coal to heat their homes.

The short years of 1924 to 1929 became known as the 'Golden Years', as foreign relations improved, and the economy prospered as Germany's international relations improved due to the Locarno Pact of 1925, this meant, France, Belgium, and Germany agreed to respect each other's borders. Then with the start of the great depression worldwide, by early 1933, unemployment in Germany had reached six million, more than one-third of its working population. This then was followed by WW2 from September 1, 1939, to Sept 2, 1945.

Growing up for Margarete in this turmoil, set the foundation for her to adapt and be creative with what was available. These traits served her and her family well throughout her life.

Margarete met the love of her life Arthur Witholt in 1942 at dance in Dorsten Germany while he was on leave from the German Marines. While dancing they were evacuated to a bomb shelter and sat in the dark for hours. Touch and verbal communication became their connection. After the air raid, in darkness, Arthur walked her home for 12 kilometres that night and the spark that was lit between them lasted for over 60 years.

Their precious son Fred was born in 1945 and Erna followed in 1949. Margarete had 2 miscarriages between the 2 children.

Following the turbulent war years Margarete build a home business in Germany selling liquor and cigarettes from her home and Arthur worked in the coal mines. They were an industrious couple.

In 1956 they decided to immigrate to Winnipeg Canada. They did not want their son to be drafted into the German army which was the custom at this time and Margarete’s younger sister who was living in Canada craved to have family close.

Margarete and Arthur, true to their nature, worked to make a home for their family. It was a time of many challenges without knowing the language and culture. Margarete started out working as a dishwasher in a restaurant, then started her home business as a seamstress, designing and sewing wedding gowns, business suits and everything in between. There was nothing she could not do. Her knitting was often a piece of art. She made beauty out of what others saw as nothing. From there she worked at Eaton’s department store in receiving where she was then asked to work on the sales floor as a Clinique Girl. This she did for many years as it was her natural calling, to help woman feel beautiful. Whatever she did she did it with style and flair.

Her pride were her children and grandchildren and then the great grandchildren. Michael Hagge the son of her daughter Erna and son in-law Bernie Hagge was her first in 1966. Then came the children of their son Fred and daughter-in-law Shirley Mc Mann Witholt. Mark Witholt was the first of 4 in 1969, followed by Christie, Gregory and Shauna.

The richness of the family continued to grow with Michael’s marriage to Barbara Twynstra and 3 children - Matthew, Bailey and Brandi. Mark married Deanna and they have 2 children - Hunter and Maria. Christie married Chris Larente and they have 4 children - Riley, Caleb, Helaina and Jaxon. Gregory married Sarah and they have 2 children – Gavin and Gage. Shawna married Jamie Huxley and they have 4 children – Evan, Liam, Brady and Mikka.

In 1970 Margarete and Arthur purchased a home in Fort Lauderdale Florida. They spent 22 years there for 6 months a year. Arthur’s colleagues in the Shriners and Masons community, was a perfect fit for Margarete’s and Arthur’s social flair. They danced weekly and became very active in the motorcycle division. Margarete would often say it was the best time in her life. Sitting on the back of the motorcycle hanging on to her man as they rode through the eastern seaboard of the US. From there they flew to Germany to visit with family and friends and explore their homeland. After the sale of their place in Florida came Spain with 4 years of the Spanish sun in the winter months.

In 1992 they moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver Canada to join forces with Bernie and Erna and in 1998 they purchased a home in Chilliwack BC. Arthur made sure they went dancing weekly and the two of them would glide in each other’s arms across the dance floor.

Arthur, who was her life force, passed away in 2007. True to Margarete’s nature she continued to adjust and moved to Surrey and then back to Chilliwack in 2011.

As she would say when asked how she was, she would often say Shitty Good. Meaning that life can be hard but, in the hardness, there is also good. She often made the hard good and planted seeds for love to thrive. That LOVE is multiplied as it lives on in all her offsprings.

She will be missed and remembered with smiles on the faces who carry the memory of her spirit.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawn-mtcheam.ca for the WITHOLT family.