Magdalen "Mags" McGarry

Our beloved Mother and Grandmother, Magdalen A. (Young) McGarry, 94, Fargo ND, passed away at Moorhead Eventide on Eighth, on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Magdalen ”Mags” was born December 30, 1923 to Frank F. and Alice (Kapaun) Young at Cashel, ND. She married Joseph F. McGarry and they were blessed with 5 children who adored her. She graduated from Buffalo, ND High School in 1942. She went on to Nursing School earning her RN diploma from St. John’s Nursing School in 1945. During her 20-year career at the birthing center at St. John’s Hospital in Fargo, Mags helped deliver hundreds of babies, including her first grandchild. She retired in 1985. Even into her retirement many parents of the children she assisted in delivering would stop her when she was out and about and thank her for her dedication to the nursing profession. In retirement, Mags enjoyed many years living on Lake Sally in Minnesota with her brother Leland. She spent endless hours with her children and grandchildren at the lake. Mags enjoyed her evening walks at the lake where no fewer than 5 neighborhood dogs and cats would join her on her walk. She was truly one of a kind. In April of 2011, Mags moved back to Fargo to be closer to her family. She was a resident at Edgewood Vista and most recently, Eventide on Eighth. The level of care at these facilities was wonderful and our family would like to thank everyone who assisted and cared for Mags over the years. Magdalen is survived by her children, Pam (Don) Hartwig, Fargo, ND; Colleen (Dann) Bjornstad, Moorhead, MN; James (Tammy) McGarry, Ham Lake, MN and Trish (Alex) Cheng, Anchorage, AK. She was blessed with 8 grandchildren whom she loved deeply, Emily (Ryan) Keeley, Westfield, IN; Tyler Bernhardt, Missoula, MT; Tom Bjornstad, Moorhead, MN; Nick (Heather) Bjornstad, Moorhead, MN; Erin (Tyrone) Hutchins, Minneapolis, MN; Derek (Alexis) McGarry, Wahpeton, ND and Aubrey and Summer Cheng, Anchorage, AK. Mags was a proud great-grand-mother to Noah, Nathan, Kaiana, Owen, Kase, Everlee and Joseph. She is also survived by her sisters Karen Knudson, West Fargo, ND and Ann Kapaun, Edina, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Susan T. (McGarry) Richardson (2002), brother Leland Young, sister, Agatha Busse and Father Neal Kapaun. Services will be held Saturday, March 3, at 1 PM at Boulger Funeral Home, Celebration of Life Center. The family will receive visitors an hour before the service. A funeral Mass will be held in memory of Magdalen, and burial will be at a later date. Memorials in Mags’s name may be made to The American Diabetes Association or First Choice Clinic, Fargo, ND.