MARGARET WIGMORE, Obituary

Margaret "Louise" Clack Wigmore, died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at a Havre care facility of natural causes.

Funeral Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church with Ila McClenahan officiating. Burial is to follow on the family plot at the Highland Cemetery.

Louise was born March 28, 1902, to Wiley and Cora Belle Clack in her parents' residence at 326 First Ave. in Havre. The house still stands today and is occupied by Ann Houlton. Louise's father fought with the Confederate Forces in the Civil War and, during that period moved to Texas from Blountsville, Ala. In 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Clack, with their sons Philip and H. Earl "Earl," moved to Montana to join their daughter Maud who had married Raymond L. Sands, a former railroad employee and homesteader.

Mrs. Wigmore attended Havre schools by living with her brother Earl's family during the school week. Earl's family then lived in the Stone House, which was next door to the house where she was born. Each Friday her father would come after her and she would spend the weekend at her farm home. There was only a difference of two years between Earl's daughter Josephine and Louise. Mrs. H. Earl Clack often said Louise seemed more like a sister than a sister-in-law.

After graduating from Havre High School, she went to work in the Clack Company Offices and was soon promoted to the position of cashier. She met and fell in love with LeGrand Wigmore, a fellow employee. They were married in Chester and later became parents of a daughter, Cora Mae. The Wigmores built a summer home at Lake Five, near Glacier Park, which was a source of joy to both.

Mrs. Wigmore was baptized into the Presbyterian Church as an infant and joined the church when she was 14. As an adult, she was an active participant and served as both a deacon and an elder. She was active in the United Presbyterian Women's Guild as well. This was at the time the ladies earned their reputation for making excellent venison mincemeat. The Presbyterian Ladies' Fall Bazaar brought most of the Havre housewives to this event to enjoy an excellent lunch, and to purchase their years' supply of mincemeat.

Mrs. Wigmore was a member of Eastern Star and was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, which she joined in 1935. She served as secretary for eight years and was closely involved in the historical, American Indian, conservation, and patriotism committees. She aided in the establishment of the DAR Marker at Fort Assinniboine and with the scholarship committee that presented a college scholarship to an outstanding high school senior.

After Mr. Wigmore's death, she continued to live on the Clack homestead, Spring Hill. After breaking her hip, her health did not permit living alone, so after discharge from the Northern Montana Hospital, she moved into the Northern Montana Care Facility.

Margaret "Louise" Clack Wigmore will be remembered by her many friends for her pleasant disposition, many kindnesses, acute mind, and as a good neighbor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wiley and Cora Belle Clack; her husband, LaGrand Wigmore on Dec. 267, 1977; brothers, Philip, H. Earl and Weaver Clack; sister, Maud Clack Sands on Feb. 6, 1991.

Survivors include her granddaughter, Christine Danner; two great-grandchildren, Pamela Doty of Kalispell, Robert Sapp of Huntsville, Ala .; three great-great-grandchildren; two cousins; numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Memorials in Mrs. Wigmore's honor may be made to The First Presbyterian Church, Box 1046, Havre, MT 59501, or to a person's choice.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.