Margaret McColley, 1914-2016

Published 9:37 am Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Funeral services for Margaret L. McColley, 101, of Alden will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Nancy Overgaard will officiate. Interment will be in Alden Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Bayview. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Margaret died on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community in Albert Lea.

Margaret McColley

Margaret McColley

Margaret Louise McColley was born Oct. 26, 1914, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Martin and Ellen (Jensen) Branvig. She grew up in Freeborn County and attended the Murtaugh Country School. On March 10, 1939, she was united in marriage to Lorin C. McColley Sr. in Albert Lea. After their marriage, they worked for various farmers, including 20 years on a farm west of Alden. Margaret was a homemaker, a babysitter and taught Sunday school for 25 years. Following Lorin’s retirement on disability, they enjoyed many years of camping and fishing, both by themselves and with many friends. They especially enjoyed holiday camping get-togethers with friends at Phil Park. They had a large garden and liked giving vegetables away to friends. Margaret especially enjoyed baking Christmas cookies and giving them away, even after turning 100 years old. Margaret had been a member of Alden United Methodist Church since 1945. She was active in the United Methodist Women, the Alden Senior Citizens, the Alden Museum and Get-Together Club.

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Survivors include her sons Lorin McColley Jr. and Lowell McColley; grandchildren Michael McColley, Kelly Jo McColley, Desarae McColley and Andrea McColley; great-grandson, Andreas McColley; and several nieces and nephews.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lorin; her daughter-in-law, Patricia McColley; brother, Marlin Branvig; sisters Helen Branvig and Olive Ebsen; as well as a sister in infancy; her mother-in-law and father-in-law; brother-in-law, Alfred Ebsen; and sisters-in-law Marian (Orville) Nelson and Genevieve Larson.