MARJORIE L. SODERQUIST
Marjorie L. Soderquist, age 86, passed away at Montrose Memorial Hospital on June 20, 2012. Marjorie was born August 3, 1925 to George O. Baumgardner and Florence M. (Pritchard) Baumgardner in Ridgway, Colorado. She spent her childhood and youth in Ridgway. After graduating from Ridgway High School, she spent one summer in Dayton, OH as teletype operator for The First Air Service Command. She married Andrew A. Soderquist from Colona on Feb 16, 1946. They farmed at Colona until 2003. She had lived in the same house since 1952. During their marriage of 59 years, Marjorie was a devoted housewife raising her family. She also helped in every aspect of running the ranch from feeding cows to disking the fields to baling hay. She always raised a large garden, canning most of the produce. Homemade butter, bread, and raspberry jam were the family favorites.
She was a 4-H leader with the Pride of the Rockies 4-H Club when her children were younger. She was a member of the Colona Grange and the Helping Hand Club. When her boys were in high school she was a devoted supporter of Montrose FFA and was Chapter Mother in 1965. She and Andrew were selected as Grand Marshall of the Ouray County Fair and Rodeo Parade in 1995.
Survivors include her two sons, Larry and wife Carol of Montrose, Dean and wife Linda of Olathe, and daughter Connie Herring and husband Randy of Loveland, CO. She has seven grandchildren, Chandra Mountford and husband Scott of Olathe, Jeff Herring of Loveland, Jared Herring and wife Jessica of Mead, CO, Aaron Soderquist and wife Brittany of Olathe, Vaughn Soderquist of Fruita, CO, John Soderquist of Tehachapi, CA, and Becky of Northridge, CA. She has five great-granddaughters, Kaylie Mountford, Delana Mountford, Joclyn Herring, Jaylyn Herring, and Liberty Soderquist. She is survived by four brothers and four sisters, Tom Baumgardner, Kenneth Baumgardner, Roy Baumgardner, Wayne Baumgardner, Lois Bryan, Nellie Merling, Jean Everitt, and Shirley Broadhead, plus numerous nephews and nieces who knew her as Aunt Marj. Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Andrew A. Soderquist, and 3 brothers, Robert, Ray Keith and Jack Baumgardner.
A memorial service to honor Marjorie’s life will be Monday June 25, 2012 at 11:00AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose. Burial will follow the service at Valley Lawns Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Marjorie’s name to the Colona Grange #259 Restoration Project, c/o of Thelma Caddy, 1625 Leeds Ave, Montrose, CO 81401.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory of Montrose.
