On March 6, 2023, in the early quiet of a cold winter morning, Margie Lou (Sherven) Porter was reunited with her beloved parents in eternal rest.  Though the final leg of her journey was difficult at times, it could not dim the light of a life well-lived.

Margie was born August 21, 1945, the fifth of seven children, to Theodore and Mary Sherven.  She grew up and attended school in Cando, graduating in 1963.  She chose to attend nursing school at Lake Region, earning her LPN, and her career as a nurse began at Towner County Hospital.

Then one night at the movie theater, she caught the eye of a young sailor, just home from the Navy, and a nearly 60-year love story began.

On July 31, 1965, Margie married Gary Porter, and they started their life together in Wahpeton, where their family grew for the first time when David was born in '66.  They moved to Rugby, where their numbers increased again, when Greg was born in '67.  They then returned to Cando to settle down, where their family was completed with the births of Tammy in '68, Darwin in '71, and Tonya in '72.

Margie worked again at the hospital for a time, then started a 30+ year career at Rest Haven Nursing Home.

In the years to come, pure joy overcame her when, in 1994, she earned the title of Grandma with the birth of her first granddaughter, Sydney, followed by Jessica in '98, Mackenzie in 2006, Alexa in 2009, and McKinley in 2010.  After 5 girls, she finally became the grandmother of boys when McCoy and Jax came along in 2011, followed by Zachary in 2013, and her collection was completed with Quinn in 2015.

She enjoyed spending time with Gary and their adult children, jetting off to Vegas and cruising the Caribbean, but she truly shined as "Gramma".  She would swing and go down the slide, she would "water" the kids right along with the flowers, and she would even climb inside the playhouse.  She was notorious for suggesting/urging her kids to go on vacation, because that meant she got the babies!

Margie was a baker, thanks to her mother, and she was a gardener, thanks to her father.  She loved to plant flowers in the spring, and she very much enjoyed raking the grand babies up with the leaves in the fall.  Her creativity was on full display with sketch art, ceramics, quilting, and crocheting.

And she was Dr. Mom.  If someone was sick, she was always asking "Do you need me to come help?"  If one of the kids or grandkids was having surgery, she was there, doing anything necessary.  She didn't wait to be asked --- she was needed, and she was there.

She was a cancer survivor and a warrior.  Her strength and resolve, as well as her guidance and love, will be greatly missed and impossible to replace.

Margie is survived by Gary, her husband of nearly 58 years; her children – David, Greg (Mollie), Tammy, Darwin (Michelle), and Tonya (Brent); her beloved grandchildren; her sisters – Marlene Roles and Doris Walker; and her brothers – Don, Gerald (Renate) and Dennis (Alice) Sherven.

She was preceded in death by her parents Theodore and Mary; in-laws William and Gertrude; brother Bud; brothers-in-law Bob, Arlan and Tom; and sisters-in-law LaDonna and Judy.

Margie chose not to have a funeral service, so instead, the family will gather in the spring for a celebration of life.