Margaret Ritter Obituary

Margaret Ritter

Fort Benton - Margaret Elizabeth Birkeland Ritter, 95, long-time resident of Fort Benton, died November 13, 2020, at Village Health Care in Missoula, Montana. Born January 27, 1925, in Fort Benton to Elizabeth and Ingolf Birkeland, she was the second oldest girl in a family of five girls and two boys. Margaret graduated from Fort Benton High School in 1942 and then attended Montana State College in Bozeman. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, a member of the Student Senate, and remained a Bobcat fan for the next 75 years.

In 1945, Margaret married her high school sweetheart Don Ritter when he returned home from Germany, where he served in World War II. They moved to Missoula where Don finished his last year of college and then became the manager of the University Bookstore for several years. In 1952, they returned to Fort Benton where Don became the manager of the family business, the Pioneer Mercantile. Margaret and Don raised three children: Diane, Eric and Bruce.

Margaret was involved in her children's activities, and participated in running the Pioneer Mercantile until it closed in 1985. She was a member of Eastern Star for 76 years and served as Worthy Matron of Bethany Chapter in Fort Benton. She was also a member of Daughters of the Nile and the Methodist Church. She was an avid reader and enjoyed many travels over the years.

After closing the Pioneer Mercantile, she commuted to Great Falls, working first at Spencer's of Montana and then at Pizzaz. In 2008, after 23 years of commuting, she moved to Great Falls, finally retiring from Pizzaz on her 90th birthday. She found great satisfaction in working with the public over her long career in retail and it seemed she knew most of the people in Choteau County and in Great Falls. In 2015, she moved to Missoula to be closer to her daughter and family.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Don in 1982, her mother and father, sisters Phyllis and Helen and brother Francis Robinson. She is survived by her children Diane (Rick) Burrell of Missoula, Eric of Seattle, Washington, and Bruce (Hilary) of Novato, California, and her grandsons Andrew (Amy) Burrell, Jeffrey (Dahye) Burrell, and Jacob Ritter. Margaret is also survived by sisters Barbara Hulbert and Beverly Carlson, and brother Tom Birkeland.

At her request there will be no service. Cremation has taken place and internment in the family plot at Riverside Cemetery in Fort Benton will take place at a later time.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Great Falls Tribune from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Margaret Ritter

5 Entries

Heidi LePard

April 29, 2023

I did not see this at the time of Margaret's passing. She was a wonderful, classy, beautiful person. I so enjoyed her through the years, whether at Spencer's or at Pizazz. She definitely made the world a better place.

Marilynn Uhart

November 23, 2020

Diane and family, Please accept my condolences in the loss of your mother, Margaret. I will always remember as the very kind person who welcome us to the upstairs of the Pioneer. She was a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul. May God bless you all with comfort and peace.

Mary Dykstra

November 21, 2020

To: Margaret's family
Over the years working with Margaret I grew to appreciate her as a woman of substance. She contributed to every aspect of the business through her willingness to take on any task that needed to be accomplished. She was the best at training new staff, by example, always keeping the success of Pizazz the priority. She was thoughtful and considerate to everyone and would sometimes say she needed to bite her tongue. Margaret could bring humor to any situation through a quick quip or a related story. Many times I would think what would I do without Margaret?
She was pleased that her time on earth was at the time she lived and so she did. Thank you Margaret Ritter!

Pam Birkeland

November 19, 2020

Diane and Rick, Eric, Bruce and Hilary-- I am deeply saddened to hear of Margaret's passing! She was a great aunt to all of us in the Birkeland family. I always admired her spunk and interest in everyone. I know that all of the memories my family and I made with her will help me remeber what a wonderful lady she was. I hope all of the memories you have made with her help console you in these sad times.

Love --Pam Birkeland

I k Gallagher

November 19, 2020

So sorry to hear of her passing. Have missed seeing her at store. She was a link to my mother-in-law so we got to hear some stories. Very lovely lady.

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