Margaret Louise Smyser, 89, of Grand Junction, Colorado died on July 2, 2024, surrounded by her family and friends after a short illness.
Margaret was born in Haxtun, Colorado on March 12, 1935. She is preceded in death by her husband, Marion Smyser, her parents, Harold and Sophie Pond, two sisters, Maxine Heimbigner, Catherine Burns, and grandson, David Lavach.
Margaret is survived by her sons, Terry and his wife Deni Ahnstedt of Austin, Texas, Alvin and his wife Carol Ahnstedt of Loveland, Colorado, stepdaughter, Gretchen and husband Dan Lavach of Virginia City, Nevada, five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, and her sister Florence Simmons of Tillamook, Oregon.
Margaret attended Haxtun, Colorado High School and University of South Dakota. At the University of South Dakota, she joined the faculty as an instructor of English. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta Phi Eta National Honorary Speech Fraternity, and Alpha Gamma Delta social fraternity.
Margaret is a member of the Crossroads Methodist church in Grand Junction. She enjoyed music and sang in the church choir. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, hiking, and camping in the mountains west of Laramie, Wyoming.
A memorial service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 15th at Greenhill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in Margaret’s honor may be made to HopeWest Hospice Grand Junction, Colorado 970-241-2212.
