Margie J. Koster

Margie Jo Koster, 81, of Beloit, Kansas, died June 8, 2012 at the Salina Regional Health Center. She was born on February 15, 1931 to Albert and Christine Koel DeBey on the family farm in Jewell County, Kansas.

Margie attended school in Jewell County and graduated from Downs High School. She completed a secretarial course through the North Central Kansas Area Vocational Technical School.

She was united in marriage to Francis M, Koster at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City on October 24, 1949. To this blessed and happy union were born five children: Jeanne, AJ, Joanne, Harry, and Janelle. Margie was a devoted wife and mother and joyfully took care of her husband, Francis, making it possible for him to remain at home until his death.

Margie was a homemaker for many years prior to going to work in the office at the Mitchell County Hospital until her retirement.

Margie's family was always her first priority and a source of pride and admiration to her. Her greatest joy was the love she had for her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her little dog Joey. She loved attending her children and grandchildren's activities and she always had a treat for her grandchildren whenever they came to visit.

Margie loved her flowers and spent many hours weeding and cultivating as was evident by her beautiful flower gardens. She also loved to iron and joyfully did this job prior to going to work full-time and after her retirement. She volunteered for Hospice, was a Pink Lady/Snack Bar volunteer at the Mitchell County Hospital as well as being a very active volunteer and member of the St. John's Ladies Guild and the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. She was also a member of the Hospital Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary. She loved being around and visiting with people and always knew how to make a person smile.

Margie was blest to be able to travel on both pilgrimages with her very good friend, Father Joseph Kieffer, who was like a son to her. Through his loving assistance she was able to go to Rome, Assisi, and Florence, and just this past November she took the trip of her life to the Holy Land.

Left to celebrate her life are her children: Daughter Jeanne and husband Jerry Sommerfeld of Halstead, Kansas; son AJ and wife Barb Koster of Valley Center, Kansas; Daughter Joanne and husband Donald Brown of Beloit, Kansas; Son Harry and wife Linda Koster of Shawnee, Kansas; and son-in-law Martin Hansen of Sedgwick, Kansas. Grandchildren: Brad and Rachel Sommerfeld, Brianne and Ladd Epp, Matt and Katy Brown, Teresa and Kelly Griffeth, Alicia and Brad Bergman, Emily Brown, Adam Brown, Ryan and Peter Koster, Levi and Florence Hansen, Eric, Zane, Kael, and Wade Hansen. Great grandchildren: Owen and Lauryn Sommerfeld; Doug, Lily, Jayden, Gabriel, and Olivia Brown; Wadyn Griffeth; Hannah and Jonah Bergman; Jordan, Xzavier, Micah, and Nathaniel Hansen; Katelyn and Braden Hansen. One brother:, Kenneth and wife Eloise DeBey of Lakewood, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Francis, and her daughter, Janelle Hansen. Her sisters, Marie May, Helen Beall, Virginia TeSelle, Dolores Hutchinson, Ruth Montgomery and brothers, Curtis and Bruce DeBey.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Joseph Kieffer at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the church or the Mitchell County Hospital Auxiliary. Margie will lie in state on Monday, June 11, 2012 at the McDonald Funeral Home from 9 AM until 4:30 PM and then at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where the Parish Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7:30 P.M.