Marjorie Stoa
August 10, 1932 ~ December 1, 2020
https://vimeo.com/event/529177
As she said so many times to family and friends over her 88 years on Earth, take note of this and date it: family historian, retired U.S History teacher, and beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin, Marjorie Ann Stoa passed away peacefully, December 1, 2020.
Marjorie was born August 10, 1932 in Fargo, ND to parents Theodore Ellingson Stoa and Marguerite Rose Benning Stoa, and was little sister to Theodore Raymond.
A 1949 North Dakota Girls State attendee, and member of the last graduating class from Fargo’s Sacred Heart Academy in 1950, Marjorie earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Dakota State University (NDSU), majoring in Education and minoring in Mathematics. She was a lifetime member of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity at NDSU and an active alum working at every Fargo Theta Antique Show. She also represented her parents and donated funds to keep active NDSU’s Theodore E. and Marguerite R. Stoa Freshman Annual Scholarship over many generations for deserving students who attained the university’s highest academic average their freshman year.
In 1956, Marjorie began her teaching career in Page, ND teaching social studies, mathematics, and girls’ physical education. She also taught in Mandan, ND, and Oklee, MN before joining the Moorhead, MN High School academic team where she taught social studies, specializing in U.S. History, until she retired in 1995. Marjorie had a witty knack for recognizing patterns in numbers and people, and liked to give her students extra credit in tests for answering questions such as who is buried in Grant’s tomb, and when was the War of 1812 fought. She was an avid golfer, hunter, and bowler. And well into her 30s, she performed energetic and point perfect cartwheels as she tried passionately but in vain to teach her nieces how to do them.
A gifted photographer and 8-millimeter film historian for her family, Aunt Margie leaves a loving legacy of imagery and stories. In addition to snapping and shooting thousands of photos and movies herself, she carefully preserved photographs taken by her ancestors that date back over 170 years. Her tireless efforts have brought meaning, memories, connection, laughter, and love to her family and will do so for generations going forward. Her dedication to, and love for, her nieces and nephews and their families was unwavering and appreciated. She was there quietly to help family members in their time of need, and until dementia robbed her of her memory, Marjorie never forgot a family or friend’s birthday with a card and personal, funny note, scribed in beautiful cursive handwriting.
She is preceded in death by her father, mother, and brother. She is survived by her sister-in-law Phyllis Stoa, her eight nieces and nephews and their spouses—Ted (Sharon), Dan (Sherry), Judi (Kathleen), Connie Grotte (Monty), Larry (Deb), Monica Fritz (Lyle), Angie Lipp (Terry), and Jon (Beth) Stoa, as well as multitudes of grand and great grand nephews and nieces.
You can view the celebration for Marjorie online at the Boulger Funeral Home, Saturday, December 5 at 2 p.m. Central Time.
On behalf of Margie, we the family, thank the wonderful caregivers at The Meadows Nursing Home and Ethos Hospice who courageously and comfortingly helped Marjorie battle two rounds of COVID-19, and to live her life with dignity, humor, and love.
I got to know Marg when I worked at the High School for many years. She was a fun person to be around and had a great sense of humor. She will be missed by many.
Ms. Stoa was my favorite history teacher in high school and I requested to have her a second time during my time at Moorhead High School. I can vividly picture her shaking her hair and saying, “Let’s get into old history.” What a remarkable lady she was, and appreciated by this Spud and many others, I’m certain. My thoughts to her family at this time.
Marge was a fun lady! She liked to watch people and often had a little smirk of her face! I really enjoyed her funny conversations! We are thankful to have had the opportunity to care for her!! I will miss her! And I sure will miss her wonderful, caring family!!🙏🏼💛
I think back to District 152 teachers who greatly influenced my life. Ms. Stoa was one of them. I remember she had an aversion of students snapping their gum in class and took action to discourage it . She had a passion for teaching and showing respect . She instilled in me the love of history and for this I am grateful. I express my condolences to her family and friends.
She was US history teacher in 1963. Not only was history my favorite class, she was my favorite teacher. I remember her emotional talk with us after she was called out of class that terrible day in November. Tears filled her eyes as she told us of President Kennedy’s death. I was lucky to know her. God bless.
I remember her chuckle and hearty laugh …. 8th grade Geography (I think) at South Junior High.
She was one of my favorite teachers in High School What a wonderful legacy for her family
Saddened to hear about the passing of one of my favorite teachers at Moorhead High School. Also, I didn’t know she had such a passion for photography/movie making. What a gift to the family to have all of those memories, and also those that she archived! As for me, she is not forgotten…
Paul Christianson
Class of 1983
Had Ms Stoa for a teacher at Moorhead High. I know that she will be missed, ad she was a great teacher and person. God bless
Ms. Stoa was one of my favorite teachers and a good friend to my dad. Sounds like she lived a very full life and will be dearly missed.
Miss Stoa was my history teacher in 1962. She was lovely. I remember well her reaction to a book report I wrote about the Navy Seabees in Alaska in WWII. She talked to me about it, and was pleased that I had mentioned my dad in the report because he was a navy CB in Alaska. I cite this as an examble of the kind of interest Miss Stoa showed all of her students. She made learning fun and history interesting. She, along with a couple of other wonderful MHS teachers, had much to do with my choosing to be a high school teacher, too. Marjorie Stoa was a teacher whom I will never forget.
Miss Stoa was my history teacher when I was a sophomore in high school. Her history lectures were amazing and I loved the fact that she showed us “HISTORY COMING ALIVE” in the films and the presentations she gave. I remember the film that she showed us about the Holocaust and the liberation of the camps, it was from this point forward I became interested in World War II and its impact on the world. Furthermore, I do have fond memories of her correcting our tests with the most unusual thing I ever saw for correcting a test. She also was very kind, patient and understanding with an awkward student in her seventh hour American History class, and along with all of the other things she did for her students, I will be grateful for her and her impact that she had on me and my fellow Spuds.
We send our condolences to the family and friends of Margie, what a wonderful woman! It is heartening to read the difference she made in the lives of so many students over the years.
Jill Nelson, Associate Dean – College of Human Sciences and Education, NDSU
Marge was one of my computer students at the Senior Center. She always had a story to tell and many laughs. She was a beautiful person. Thoughts and prayers to her family.
I remember Miss Stoa as fair,kind, interested in her students having had her as History teacher at Moorhead High. My condolences. Sandy Kreps Aamold,class of 70.
What a beautiful memorial for her. She was a wonderful teacher. Sad to she shes passed. My condonalences to the family. Sincerely a former student from Moorhead schools.
Miss Stoa was my History teacher at Moorhead High and enjoyed her teaching style. I also remember going to her class after being told about President Kennedy’s death. Her class that day will always be with me.
With sympathy LaVerne (Wee) Czichotzki Class of 66
She was a very influential Teacher for History thoughts and prayers to family class of 87
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I wish I could be there to celebrate Margie’s life in person. The photo video is fabulous. I have so many great memories of our families being together including Margie. Take care of yourselves and relish the memories.
Even though I haven’t seen Marge for a few years, I have fond memories of the many good visits we enjoyed when we stopped in Fargo. Marge was a little older than I was so when we were younger we did not play together but Marge was always pleasant and kind to her younger cousin. She was always interested in the family history and in people. I am grateful to have know Marge and to be related to her!!
Marjorie was my aunt. She was a very important part of my life and she will be forever missed. I was unable to attend the funeral ceremony, but I wanted to share what some of her friends and family shared with me as I made phone calls to them to tell them of her passing. Thank you to those who shared, it was wonderful to hear your stories!:
Memories of Marge from her friends:
Janet B. shared how Janet, Edith and Marge were the best of friends as they were all a part of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity. Janet and Marjorie walked to school together every day. Janet laughingly recalled how she had to call Marge as she left her own house to make sure Marge was up and ready by the time Janet got to Marjorie’s home on 12th Ave where she resided with her family. Marge was known to stay up too late and have trouble getting up on time in the morning in those days!
Janet also recalled that immediately after the 1957 tornado Marge ran all the way up to Janet’s parent’s home several blocks away to check and see if they were all okay. Marjorie was the first person her family saw after the tornado had torn through the town.
Edith the 3rd member of this tightly knit group told me these ladies have been the best of friends since 1950. Edith returns to Fargo each summer and made sure to stop to visit Marjorie each time. This past summer at the same age as Marjorie, she stood outside of the window to be able to see her good friend and visit.
A teaching partner of Marjorie’s Rosemary S. left a message telling how she and Marge were the only women who taught history in the Social Studies Department at Moorhead High School. Rosemary said they had a lot of good times together! Rosemary and Marjorie were part of a group who gathered frequently and many times on Thursdays after school hours.
When I got a hold of the husband of Jana K. (Curt), who was another member of the Thursday night group, he spoke so highly of Marge and Curt assured me that the group had all been talking and sharing memories of Marge.
Marjorie also had a Tuesday night coffee group. One of the members I was able to visit with was Doris P. She and Marge remained friends for many years and Doris too, visited Marge at The Meadows. They had a group that had members as far away as Texas and Detroit Lakes. Doris mentioned Marge’s dry sense of humor, I told her she maintained that up to the very end.
Our cousin Lois L. shared many different memories of the Stoa Family, the one that touched my heart about Marge, was her pride and love for her 8 nieces and nephews. It was very evident to us too.
Ms. Stoa will be missed in so many ways. She was the light of my day with her amazing sense of humor, and her smile. I loved her passion for sports and to work hard and persevere. Marge was not only my teacher but an amazing patient that I will forever hold dear in my heart. She taught me so much til the last day. Blessings to her family, and thank you for providing us a delicious meal from Erberts and Gerberts. So very thankful!