Funeral services for Margrete Siemens Douglas, age 73, of Park Rapids, formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Church of Christ in Albert Lea. The Rev. Homer G. Dobson will officiate. Interment will be in the Luni Cemetery, Renwick, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

Margrete died Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Park Rapids.

Margrete Siemens Douglas was born on Nov. 17, 1934, on a farm in Wright County near Clarion, Iowa. She graduated from the Renwick High School in 1952. Margrete entered a Christian College in Minneapolis, receiving a secretarial certificate in 1955 and a degree in Christian education in 1957. While in college she spent three summers directing and teaching Vacation Bible School in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. On June 7,1958, in Goldfield, Iowa, Margrete was married to T. Wayne Douglas from Earlham, Iowa, whom she met while in college. He became a minister and the couple served churches in Pipestone (1958-1963); Sciota, Ill. (1963-1971); and Albert Lea (1971-1983 and 1991-1999). While in Illinois, Margrete taught kindergarten for five years in Colchester, Ill.; and in 1970 to 1971, the couple hosted an exchange student from the country of Luxembourg through the AFS program and they continued to be in contact with him through the years. Margrete did all the church secretarial work for T. Wayne in all the churches he served as pastor.

Upon coming to Albert Lea, Margrete organized the nightly Vacation Bible School with the Church of Christ. In 1972, she was stricken with cancer and battled that the rest of her life which caused her to focus on working with the Aim Hi class (senior citizens) within the church and volunteer work.

In 2000, the couple lived in Florence, Ariz., (winters) and Park Rapids (summers).

Survivors include her husband, T. Wayne; brothers, Ken and his wife Carol Siemens, Don and his wife Velma Siemens, Bernard and his wife Mary Siemens; sister-in-law, Arlene Siemens; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

Margrete was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Andersen; and brother, Bill Siemens.

Blessed be her memory.