Margaret Cota
January 1, 1970 ~ March 5, 2006
Remembering the life of Margaret Cota
Margaret Louise Cota died March 5, 2006, surrounded by family in her Assisted Living Apartment at Bethany Towers, after a brief illness. She had recently celebrated her 90 birthday.
Margaret was raised on a farm in western Minnesota, one of twelve children. She attended school in Avoka. She trained and worked as a practical nurse in Minneapolis, Waukegan, Illinois and Vancouver, Washington. During World War II she worked in a defense plant in Minneapolis. In 1948 she and her husband opened the Fargo Juvenile Detention Home, and she managed it for the next six years. She also worked for the Fargo JC Penneys for over a decade.
Margaret married Clair Cota in 1947. They made their home in Fargo, where they raised four children.
Margaret was a generous, intelligent woman with a strong passion for justice. She was a tireless champion of the underdog. Her Catholic faith was central to her life. Her strong spirit and ready laugh will be missed by her proud family and her many friends.
Margaret is survived by her four children: Kathleen Cota and her partner Mary Donohue (Minneapolis), Lois Cota Holzemer (Minneapolis), Tom Cota and his wife Pam (West Fargo), Dan Cota and his wife Karen (Bowling Green, Ohio). She is survived by five grandchildren: Kate Holzemer (Buffalo, New York), Gabrielle Holzemer (Portland, Oregon), Caroline Cota (Bowling Green, Ohio), and Lindsey Cota and Michael Cota (West Fargo). She is survived by three siblings: Genevieve Kuhry (Graceville, Minnesota, formerly of Fargo), Ronnie Anderson (Graceville), and Frances Peltier (Browns Valley, Minnesota). Margaret is also survived by many dear friends, including Gilma Swenson (Fargo) and Fern Travis (Rapid City, South Dakota), and many devoted nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by husband Clair Cota, infant daughter Elaine, son-in-law Dave Holzemer, and eight siblings.
Funeral 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Church of the Holy Spirit
Prayer Service and Sharing Memories 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, Boulger Funeral Home
Visitation 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home and
One hour before the funeral in the church.
Interment Holy Cross Cemetery North, Fargo
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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