Marjorie Ann Devine
July 5, 1931 ~ October 27, 2024
Born in:
Larimore, North Dakota
Resided in:
Fargo, North Dakota
Marjorie’s service will be livestreamed below on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM:
Marjorie Ann Devine, 93, of Fargo, North Dakota passed away Sunday, October 27, 2024, in her home.
Marjorie was born the only child of Warren and Etta (Mooney) Wick on July 5, 1931, in Larimore, North Dakota.
Marj, as she was known to family and friends, was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She grew up on her parents’ farm in Larimore, before attending Mayville State Normal College for Teachers. She then went on to teach both kindergarten and 2nd grades at several different school districts, including Washington Elementary in Fargo.
On July 6th, 1957, Marj was wed to James Thomas Devine at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Larimore, North Dakota. Through Jim’s career with The Great Northern Railroad, they made homes and friends in Minot, Hannaford, and Argusville. In 1980, the couple and their family moved to their lake cabin at Fish Lake near Pelican Rapids, MN where they embraced lake living until 1999, until moving to Touchmark at Harwood Groves in Fargo.
Marj enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate in school sports, concerts and various activities. She loved being out at the lakes, especially enjoying pontoon rides, watching the sunset over the lake and listening to the loon’s calls while sitting peacefully on the deck.
Marj was an avid traveler and took great advantage of her growing family’s active and mobile lives. From inviting locations like New England, when their eldest daughter Sue took on a traveling nurse assignment to far away military destinations when their daughter Mary’s family was stationed overseas, Marj and Jim were quick to pack a bag! Following Jim’s passing, she was known to “catch a ride” with anyone headed out of Fargo in a direction that may bring her closer to her children’s families. She made great use of her lifetime railroad pass from The Great Northern Railroad. Marj knew every line and connection point that would get her from Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Minot, North Dakota, and many points in between. Marj would draft up the agenda, before reaching out to inform her children of their role and instructing them to “pack the bag, let’s make it happen!” She was an active member of her widespread family, always stopping by to visit, shop, catch a concert or play, or attend a sporting event for one of her grandchildren. She was known to catalog some of her favorite stops, always taking time to enjoy tea with a friend, or treating herself to a meal at one of her favorite restaurants (The General Store in Minnetonka, Nelson Brothers in Clearwater). Marj was also an avid fan of Class B basketball, the NDSU Bison, and the Minnesota Twins.
Marj was a great communicator. A human bulletin board of stories and information for all things family and friends related. She honed this skill as a young mother in Hannaford, North Dakota at daily coffee klatches with other neighborhood moms. In her later years with access to a flip phone, never a smartphone, she took this talent to new levels. A conversation with Marj yielded a bonanza of info of what others in her circles were up to and were always the quickest way to catch up on anything Devine. To put it plainly, “if you didn’t learn something new, you weren’t paying attention”.
Marjorie is survived by 5 children, William (Lynn) of Albertville, Minnesota, Kathy (Greg) Stompro, of Fargo, North Dakota, Thomas (Karen) of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Mary Ellen (Edward) Meyer of Wheatland, Wyoming, and Patricia Devine of Minot, North Dakota; her son-in-law, Jeff Drawz of Minot, North Dakota; 15 grandchildren, Nicholas Devine, Kelsey Stompro, Sara Teske, Michael Drawz, Bailey Capistrant, Amy Stompro, Marissa Meyer, James Drawz, Kait Weston, James Meyer, Brendan Devine, Abby Devine, Shay Devine, Lexi Carlson and Kenzie Carlson; and 8 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Devine; and daughter, SuAnne Drawz.
A visitation service will be held at Boulger Funeral Home, 123 10th St S. Fargo, North Dakota at 9:00 am Friday November 8, 2024, with a funeral service following at 10:00 am. There will be a memorial lunch immediately following the service at the venue.
Burial will take place at Bellevue Cemetery in Larimore, North Dakota following the service.
The family prefers memorials be directed to Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Services
Funeral Service - Friday: November 8, 2024 10:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Visitation - Friday: November 8, 2024 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
I am sending my heart felt love in memory of Aunt Marj. She was always welcoming of the Fox hoard when we descended on her. I remember her smiles and kind words, soothing the bumps and bruises and making sure we all got fed and had a good laugh or two.
Kodell and Gary Stompro
Oh, the laughter and adventures my folks and Marj & Jim enjoyed. Jim & Marj were present for every life event large or small that I can remember. Like wise, we shared in the Devine clan’s birthdays, graduations, weddings, family reunions and for no reason at all. Annual Super Bowl parties, summertime at our lake and then over to Devine’s cabin, roadtrips with Uncle Phil & Aunt Shirley Wentz, annual New Year’s pig roasts in subzero weather, ice fishing weekends at Fish Lake and gigantic pots of Jim’s spaghetti, and frequent dinners and dancing at the Hi-10 were the norm.
But, probably the most memorable 3 week adventure was 6 couples – who were equally as hilarious as our parents – rented houses on a remote beach in Kauai. I remember taking car loads of them to the airport and saying parental things like, “Now, behave yourselves. Remember you all are parents! Keep your clothes on at the beach! Don’t be calling your children to bail you out if you all get rowdy!” They came back with stories that lasted a lifetime.
On the day my mother died unexpectedly, Marj went to my Mom’s house and waited for Mike, the kids, and me to get there from the Cities. On that day some 30 years ago, Marj wrapped her arms around me tightly and through a waterfall of tears kept assuring me that Mike, Ashley, Aaron and I were now part of her family. People say a lot of things at the time of a loved one’s death, but we quickly saw through Marj & Jim’s actions that they sincerely, and without fanfare, seamlessly enveloped me and my little family into their larger one. Marj became “Gram Marj” to our Ashley & Aaron. And they loved everything about her.
Marj was game for any adventure – be it attending local theater productions or Broadway productions in the Cities. She could pack her suitcase like the speed of light if a trip anywhere presented itself . She was always up for a fall trip like one to an apple orchard or two, maybe three for giggles, laughs, and some hot apple pie. Gram Marj also shared Ashley’s love of formal teas so a couple times a year we’d don the most elaborate hats we could find and laugh our way through a 2 hour tea service. Before we even reached the car, she and Ashley were discussing what tea they could go to next.
Gram Marj & Mike shared a passion for the MN Twins, Marj especially liked Joe Mauer. When she learned that Aaron’s Inese had been selected to be the culinary chef for his wedding she was so excited and interested to hear every detail, until hearing that everyone involved with this too-secret affair had signed a NDA so Inese could not tell us anything until afterwards. The curiosity almost did Gram Marj in!
No one cherished their flip-phone more than Gram Marj. I think it was her most precious possession. With it, she was able to stay connected to the masses. Her ability to track down anyone with that flip-phone phone was beyond impressive. It was not uncommon to get a call from her asking if I’d seen or heard from Bill or Tom because she’d called them (several times) and got no answer. Or if something came to her mind but the specific details were fuzzy, I’d hear … Call Kathy or Sue or Patty or Tom or Bill.
Most days she had her standard – long – call down list. When she got to us, if she couldn’t reach Mike or I, Ashley was her go-to girl. Chances were high that Ash would answer, they’d have a lengthy chat and then Ashley was to relay any messages.
On days the Twins were playing, Mike and Gram Marj would be on their phones from first pitch until the end. I would hear Mike giving her color commentary through the game and occasional swearing. Their Twins game dates became more frequent especially when her eye sight began to fail. Then they’d have daily chats about the upcoming game anticipating rosters, stadiums, coaches, etc.
As she aged, we’d get multiple calls from her a day, and we welcomed her forgetfulness and were happy we could reassure her that this or that thing was fine.
What a treasure she was to us. She left us with more wonderful memories than we have room to write. As Ashley shared this week, “Gram Marj was different from most people, Mom. Most people ask how you are as a formality, but Gram Marj asked and honestly wanted to learn about you. She always had time. She’d hold your hand and really listen. She genuinely was invested in everyone. Every time we left she always said I love you often through tears and tell us we had to come back soon.”
As much as I miss my mother to this day, she left us in the very capable hands of one tiny but mighty Marjorie Wick Devine. She was a blessing to us every day on this earth. She freely loved everyone and we loved her!