Margie Lois Conover

February 25, 1915 to January 27, 2024

Margie Conover, lifelong citizen of the Seattle community, passed away on January 27, 2024, at 108 years of age. A life well-lived indeed.

Margie was born in Seattle during WWI, on February 25, 1915, to Harold and Karen Nelson, both immigrants from Norway. Margie grew up in the Ballard community, attending Crown Hill, Greenwood, and Ballard High School, graduating in 1933.

After graduation, Margie moved to Washington DC, to take a new job at the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission. On one particular visit back home to Seattle, Margie happened to attend a dance at Bothell High School (Bothell, WA). During the dance, the lights went out; but, the band kept playing on. Curious, Margie found her way up to the band’s piano player, Dexter, and asked him while he continued to play, “How can you play the piano in the dark?” While we don’t know what Dexter said to Margie, we do know that Margie was reacquainted with Dexter through a mutual friend a year later, in Washington DC, where he had just relocated for employment. Their 65-year love story unfolded from there.

Engaged in 1936, Margie and Dexter married in June 1939, at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, in Seattle. Their plans to settle in and start a family were interrupted by WWII, with Dexter serving in the Coast Guard. Margie worked for the Seattle Police Department and later, at the Seattle District, US Army Corps of Engineers Personnel Office, as Assistant Personnel Officer. After the war, Margie and Dexter permanently settled into the Greenwood-Broadview areas of Seattle where they started their family, with sons, Terry, Sherman, and Forrest, followed by a daughter, Cynthia. After raising her family, Margie returned to the Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Counsel, as a legal secretary.

Margie and Dexter were brought together by music. They believed music to be true comfort for the soul. Together with their three sons, the couple spent countless joyful family moments playing the piano, clarinet, saxophone, and accordion. Some of the Conover’s happiest times were getting together for birthdays, holidays and camping trips with Margie’s brother Corbett, his wife Lillian and their family. They always enjoyed a good game of pinochle or bridge with numerous friends and neighbors, especially at their family retreat on Lake Shoecraft, where Margie, Dexter and family shared many happy memories together.

With a boundless energy and excitement that amazed many, Margie looked forward to social events with a lifelong willingness to give to others. She was a member of the Castle Club, a group of women who started meeting during WWII, and with whom she became dear friends over the years. She also stayed in touch with her 1933 Ballard High School women’s basketball teammates. Margie organized her high school reunion (as well as helping with other reunions) up until her 70th reunion (at 88 years young). She was a lifetime member of Leif Erikson’s lodge in Ballard, and an honorary lifetime member of her local PTA.

Ever proud of her Norwegian heritage, Margie and family traveled to Norway in 1969 to meet her many relatives, and to trace the birthplaces of her mother and father. She shared an unforgotten moment with her Norwegian cousins watching the U.S. astronauts land on the moon.

In her 108 years, Margie’s life was full and wonderful, but not without its share of sadness. Aside from living through two pandemics, two world wars, and the Great Depression, she lost her only daughter as an infant on Christmas Day. Yet, Margie was also a proud breast cancer survivor, and forever grateful for her continued gift of life. When her beloved Dexter passed away in 1999, Margie’s life-long belief in God sustained her with comfort and peace. Besides her endless dedication to family, one of Margie’s most enduring qualities was her perpetual optimism, finding "the good” in every situation. When asked how she was doing, even after her entering hospice, Margie’s answer was always the same: “I’m doing great!”

Margie loved her family; her Norwegian relatives with whom she kept in faithful touch; her friends and dear neighbors, and her pets. Finding true happiness in giving, she was truly a friend of “the world,” and as Tom Brokaw put it, a member of “The Greatest Generation.” Margie (“Mom”) is already greatly missed; but, her family takes comfort in knowing that she is in the best hands now, as she reunites with her departed family and friends.

Margie was predeceased by her beloved husband of 60 years, Dexter; her daughter Cynthia; brother Corbett and sister-in-law Lillian; brother-in-law Richard and sister-in-law Lois. She is survived by her three sons, Terry, Sherman and Forrest; daughters-in-law Dolly and Diana; grandsons Phillip (Tam) and Blake; her great-grandson, Hans; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews both stateside and in Norway.

A visitation will be held at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery, 11111 Aurora Ave. N., on February 26th at 11:00 am (one day after what would have been Margie’s 109th birthday). Gravesite commitment will follow at the Washelli Cemetery across the street.

Remembrances in Margie’s name may be made to: Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church; Fred Hutch Cancer Center; any veterans organization of your choice; or the Humane Society. The Conover Family’s deep gratitude goes out to the caregivers at the Norse Home, and the Foss Home and Village, who were dedicated to helping Margie over the past five years.