Margie Bellanger

Margery Marie “Margie” Bellanger, age 78, of Waubun, MN, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2017, at Sanford Health Hospital in Fargo, ND, after a long battle with cancer.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at St. Columba Episcopal Church in White Earth, MN.  A visitation will begin at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, at the church, with a prayer service at 7:00 pm, and will continue until the time of Mass.  Interment will follow the Mass at St. Columba Episcopal Cemetery.

Margie was born on February 13, 1939, to Charles and Margaret (Lufkins) Hanks in White Earth.  She was raised in White Earth and attended elementary school there; she went on to attend Waubun High School.  She was united in marriage to Lowell Bellanger on March 31, 1958, and the couple settled in White Earth where they raised their three children.  In her career, she worked in medical records for the White Earth Clinic and for the United States Postal Service.  Margie received a cancer diagnosis in 2011 and retired a short time later in 2012.  She beat her cancer until it returned in 2015.  Her strength allowed her to beat it for a second time.  In 2017, it again returned, as Leukemia, and she succumbed to her illness.

Margie was devout in her faith and dedicated to her church, St. Columba.  She would never miss a Lenten prayer meeting and would also volunteer to work at the church, whether cleaning, shoveling snow, or with whatever else she could help.  She was an active member of the Ojibwe Singer’s and was a member since its formation.  She also helped with fundraisers for the church as well as for the Waubun School District’s Close-up Program.  Margie was a leader, at her church and in her community, where she was a founding member of Camp Justice in the 1990’s.  She was also active in tribal politics.  Her greatest accomplishments are her children and grandchildren, whom she loved dearly and helped raise.  She was especially proud of her great-granddaughter, and namesake, Jory.

Margie enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and making things for her grandchildren.  She also liked ricing and loved playing Bingo.  She was also well-known for her two kinds of fry-bread.

She is survived by her children: Vicki Bellanger (Mike Kappes) of Waubun, Patti (David) DeGroat of Ogema, and Michael (Theresa) Bellanger of Waubun; siblings: Charles Hanks Sr. of White Earth, Richard (Susan) Hanks of White Earth, Julius Hanks of Ogema, LeRoy Hanks of Waubun, Ethel (Bob) Davey of Finley, ND , and Marilyn Teiken of Minneapolis; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; her dear friends, Emma King of Ogema, and Beverly Smith of White Earth; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Lowell; her parents, Charles and Margaret, five brothers: John “Gook”, Dallas “Kido”, Robert, Ronald, and Elvis; and two sisters: Goldie and Laverne Hanks; two grandchildren: Mandy Bellanger, and Neil Englund; and two great-granddaughters, Aiyana and Kelsey Englund.