Margaret Huebsch

Margaret Mary (Doll) Huebsch (aka “Mom”), 97, of Perham, MN passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus the morning of August 13, 2019, at Perham Living.

Margaret was born June 2, 1922, the third of eight children to Peter and Anna Doll at their home farm at Rush Lake near Perham, MN. She attended 1st grade at St. Henry’s Catholic School in Perham, then continued at the one-room country school (District 128) through 8th grade and graduated from Perham High School in 1940. Mom had fond memories of growing up on the farm and often talked about their dog Curly, thrashing hay, playing with her sister Alice, and many activities at St. Lawrence Church. She stayed home for a year after graduation to help with the farm work and later moved to St. Paul to nanny for two young children. In 1942 Margaret returned to Perham and worked as a secretary, later in Parkers Prairie, followed by an office job in Wadena.

In the spring of 1947, at a social function at St. Lawrence Church, Margaret and a long-time neighbor, Jim Huebsch, volunteered to wash the dishes. Romance struck and just a few months later Jim and Margaret were married on Labor Day, Sept.1, 1947.

Mom’s full-time job since then was that of loving wife and mother. She often said that she was married on Labor Day and was in labor for the next 17 years until she got her independence when the youngest of their nine children was born on July 4, 1964. Faith and family were always the focus of Mom’s life. She remained a loving and loyal wife to her husband Jim for over 70 years. Raising nine children and leading them in their faith journey through life, with all its ups and downs, Mom relied heavily on her faith in God and deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was a member of the Catholic Daughter for 76 years, one of the longest-serving members in Minnesota. Mom was an excellent writer and proud of the book she wrote called “Treasured Memories: Thank God For Kids” in which she recalled many memories of raising her kids, adventures and joy Jim and the children brought into her life. Family meant the world to her.

In spite of her short stature of 4’11”, Mom was always easy to pick out in a crowd with her beautiful white hair and twinkling blue eyes. She loved the color blue and was proud of being named after Jesus’ mother. She embraced her Irish ancestry and enjoyed listening to Irish music, with “Danny Boy” as her favorite. She learned to embroider when she was a young child but set it aside for many years to raise her family. In her senior years, she picked it up again and embroidered many sets of pillow cases for family and friends. At age of 96 she finished embroidering the 50 state birds which her daughter put together into a quilt for her. With the exception of a short period after high school and three years in California from 1958-1961, Perham has always been her home.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Jim; parents Peter and Anna Doll; brothers Joseph, Fr. William, and Francis; and her sister Sr. Alice, OSF. She is survived by her nine children: Jerome of Perham, MN, Thomas (Suzanne) of Lake Elmo, MN, Dick (Kris) Huebsch of Ottertail, MN, Dennis (Roanne/deceased) of Detroit Lakes, MN, Duane of Perham, Dr. Ronald (Amy) of Princeton, MN, Mary (Gary) Hager of Detroit Lakes, Janice of Thief River Falls, MN, and Joseph (Denise) of St. Cloud, MN; 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister Mary Wigginton of Fargo, ND; and brothers Leo Doll of Perham, and Pat (Ellen) Doll of Perham; brother-in-law Don Huebsch of Mt. Angel, OR; and sister-in-law Loreta Anning of Rockfalls, IL.

The family requests memorials to be sent to St. Henry’s Area School or Perham Center for the Arts.

Family and friends are encouraged to wear blue (mom’s favorite color) or green to represent her Irish heritage. Many thanks to the Prairie Knoll staff at Perham Living for the wonderful care you gave mom over past few years.

Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 6:30 and parish prayers at 7:00 on Sunday, August 18 at Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service. Visitation will resume from 10:00-11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral Mass at 11:00 on Monday, August 19 at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Perham. Burial will be in the church cemetery with lunch to follow at church.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com

Margaret's Memorial Folder