Margaret Strong

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 22 from 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. at Baum Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home 302 W. Hubbard St Mineral Wells, TX. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 23 at 10:00 at St Mark Lutheran Church 1201 SE 25th Ave, Mineral Wells, TX with interment immediately after at Woodland Park Cemetery HWY 281 South Mineral Wells, TX. 

Margaret was born on May 31, 1933, in San Francisco, CA, to Ross DeVoe Peterson and Rena (Charlesworth) Peterson. She graduated High School at Analy Union High School in 1951 in Sebastopol, CA. She graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA with High Honors. She also took secretarial skills classes where she excelled in typing and Gregg Shorthand. 

Margaret married William Sherwood Peterson on January 29, 1955 with whom she had three children. They lived in California, Alabama, Germany and Florida. They divorced June 9, 1972. 

Margaret’s first job was with Early Apple Advisory Board during the summer and then for a local attorney as a secretary. While married to William, Margaret worked for The US Air Force, HQ WESTAF Flight Operations and the Office of Safety Travis AFB Fairfield, CA. After her divorce, she worked for McCrary & McCrary Attorneys at Law in Stuart, FL. 

Margaret met, and married her soulmate, Earl Strong on May 31, 1986 in Stuart Florida. She moved to his hometown in Mineral Wells, Tx upon completion of their honeymoon. She lived a very happy life with Earl, in Mineral Wells, until his death on March 17, 2009. They lived “happily ever after”, fishing, traveling, visiting family and serving the Lord. 

Margaret was very involved in her church. She taught Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, was a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League as well as sitting on various committees. She volunteered at Palo Pinto General Hospital for many years until dementia took her abilities away. 

Margaret passed peacefully and surrounded by family in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 11, 2024. 

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Donald G. Peterson (Paula), and her sister, Jeanne Wheelus (Howard). 

Margaret is survived by her children, Diane Renee Peterson, born August 1956, Kathryn Elaine Peterson, born October 1958 and Eric Jon Peterson, born May 1960. Adopted daughter Cheri Marie (Higbee) Pless, born May 1958 and Earl’s children Vicky (Strong) New, Susan (Strong) Morgenstern, and William G. Strong (Julie), as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. 

Margaret loved the Lord, her family, horses, fishing, music, being outdoors and traveling.