Margie Zeller

Margie (Jerke) Zeller, 83, passed peacefully into the arms of the lord on February 5^th, 2024, at Miller Pointe in Mandan, ND. Funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday February 12, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in Mandan with Pastor Phil Leer presiding. Burial will follow at 2 PM at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday, February 11 from 2-4 PM at Weigel Funeral Home in Mandan. 

Margie (Jerke) Zeller was born November 19, 1940, in Fort Yates, ND to Regina (Bauer) and John G. Jerke.  She was the youngest of seven children.  Her family moved to Ellendale ND and then to Aberdeen, SD where she attended school.  She received her diploma from Aberdeen Central High School.  

It was while working at Dutch’s Café that Margie met the love of her life, Marvin.  They were married in Webster SD on February 17, 1961, and made their home in Aberdeen. They moved to the Bismarck/Mandan area in the mid-sixties.

Margie was a very loving and generous person.  Her children were very important to her, and she involved herself in their activities by becoming a cub scout den mother, girl scout cookie chairman and girl scout leader.  She loved taking her children to the museum, the library, the zoo, and on picnics in the park.

She was a talented needleworker and embroidered many items including a full-size bedspread.  Her sewing skills enabled her to make many gifts for family and friends.  While volunteering for the charity Open Your Heart, she cleaned dolls and sewed new doll outfits.  

She enjoyed decorating cakes for her children’s birthdays as well as providing cakes for fundraisers.  She made the best caramel rolls, that never lasted very long, and her pickles were amazing, just ask my cousin Lisa.

Music was a big part of Margie’s life.  She enjoyed playing piano, the accordion and going to concerts.  She also loved reading, playing cards, watching John Wayne movies, bowling, and having coffee with friends.

Traveling was another interest.  Margie loved visiting and spoiling her grandchildren.  She and Marvin celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary in Hawai’i. The trip to Hawai’i was her first plane ride and would lead to many other flights.  Margie traveled to New York City where she saw the famed Radio City Christmas Show as well as a production of The King and I.  Ellis Island was a particular highlight for her as her father with his parents were processed through there at the turn of the last century prior to coming to North Dakota.

Margie worked at the south Bismarck Walmart for 23 years where she was called mom by numerous younger coworkers.  She worked first as a cashier, then in the fabric department for most of her employment.

Margie leaves behind her five children, Michele Zeller, Bismarck; Douglas Zeller, Grand Forks; James Zeller, Hebron, KY; Cynthia (Carlos) Zeller Gonzalez, Memphis, TN; Chris Zeller, Bismarck.  Four grandchildren, Katie Dennis, Aaron Zeller, Gabriella Gonzalez, and Alexander Gonzalez.  Numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

She also leaves behind her best friend of over 50 years Sonya Heydt and her sisters-in-law, Carol Zeller, Joan (John) Toohey, and brother-in-law, Frederick Zeller.

She leaves behind the many CNA’s, nurses and doctors who provided excellent care at Miller Pointe.   She became one of the favorites and was much loved by the staff whom she loved in return.  She was always quick with a smile when greeted by them and in better days was able to say hi and told them, “You look nice”.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband Marvin, her parents, her parents-in-law, her six siblings, Melbert, Viola, Josephine, Clifford, Alfred and Dina; and her sister-in-law Joleen Zeller.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Minnesota-North Dakota chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.