Margaret Hemphill

Margaret Cecil (Hodena) Hemphill was born on January 12, 1927 on her grandfather’s farm in Ransom County, rural Lisbon, North Dakota. Her parents were the late Alexander and Ruth Lucille (Spark) Hodena. Margaret attended school in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

In 1944 Margaret was united in marriage to John Bernard Keating in Crookston, Minnesota. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Ruth and Judy. The Keating family resided in Grand Forks. Margaret and John were married for seven years. Margaret and her girls moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a short time, then to Askov, Minnesota.  Margaret was employed as a waitress in rural Sandstone where she met Bob Hemphill and his son, Mike.

On January 24, 1955 Margaret and Bob were united in marriage in Yankton, South Dakota when they were on their way to visit family in California. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Debra and Cheryl. They resided in Escondido, California, where Bob was employed at an airplane factory. They moved back to Buffalo, Minnesota for five years, then moved to San Diego, California, where Bob was employed with the San Diego City School for six years. They moved back to Buffalo, where Bob was employed with Buffalo Bituminous.

The Hemphill family moved to Wadena Minnesota in 1977, where they owned and operated Wadena Asphalt until Bob retired in 1997. Their daughter, Debra and her husband, Tom bought the family business after Bob retired. After retirement, Bob and Margaret became snowbirds and wintered in Florida. Margaret was a Life Member and past President of the Buffalo American Legion Post #271. She enjoyed dancing, visiting casinos, baking cakes for weddings, sewing, and visiting with family and friends. 

On March 14, 2020 Margaret passed away at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena at 93 years of age.  She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Preceding Margaret in death were her parents, Alexander and Ruth; husband, Robert Hemphill; daughter, Ruth Ann Hemphill; brothers: Alex, Jim and Howard; and sister, Norma.

Margaret is survived by her daughters: Judy (Dan) Cooney of Wadena; Debra (Tom) Marquette of Wadena; Cheryl (Tedd) Elliott of Buffalo; Mike (Cindy) Hemphill of Maple Grove; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; other relatives and a host of friends.

If you are planning on sending flowers, please wait until the memorial service is scheduled. Thank you.

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