Wilma Marguerite "Marge" Loper

Hamilton - Wilma Marguerite "Marge" Loper, 97, of Hamilton passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at her home on the Sapphire Home Campus. She was born January 8, 1916 in the vicinity of Madison, Missouri, the daughter or Grig Johnston and Pauline Farrell Johnston.

When she was two years old the family moved to Iowa. Marge was 14 when the depression hit. She worked for her board and room in order to attend high school where she was on the girl's basketball team.

She came to Montana in 1940 and helped run the Tin Cup Cafe in Darby as she was raising her children. Marge was very instrumental in the opening of the Darby Public Library. In 1961 she married Kenneth Loper.

Marge was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husbands, and one son. She is survived by her son, Lyle "Bill" Barringer and wife Patricia; daughters, Karen Mitchell and husband Bill and Sheri Hazlewood and husband Dan; brother, Burton Loper; 7 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Dr. Randy Stewart and nurse Dorothy, the staff at Sapphire Lutheran Homes and the staff of Aspen Hospice.