Marjorie "Marge" Honer

Marjorie "Marge" Ann Honer, age 86, of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich, Minnesota.

***Please Note: Date of Service***

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Michael Carlson officiating. A private inurnment will take place at a later date at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar, Minnesota.

Following the service, family and friends are invited to continue celebrating Marge's life at her favorite BINGO spot, the American Legion in Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday at the church, prior to the service.

Marge was born on December 31, 1939, in Britton, South Dakota, to Elliott and Mildred (Skoglund) Hanscom. In 1944, her family moved from Genesis, North Dakota, to Willmar, Minnesota where she graduated from Willmar High School in 1957. After graduation, she worked as a long-distance operator for Northwestern Bell until marrying Gerald W. Honer in 1958 at St. John Cantius Church in St. Cloud. Together they raised five children: Patric Bryon, Brenda Jean, Sonja Adeline, Theresa Ann, and Jerel Marjorie.

In 1968, Marge and Jerry purchased their family farm near Long Prairie. There, they built a life centered on family and farming. One of their greatest adventures began when they purchased the family's favorite horse, Shadow, from Jeri and Larry Sorenson. That purchase sparked a lifelong friendship between the two families. They shared countless overnight trail rides, horse shows, and years of riding together. After Jeri's passing, Marge often said, "I miss Jeri." Their daughters remain the best of friends to this day—a lasting testament to that special bond.

Marge was never one to shy away from hard work. Over the years, she devoted herself to raising her family while helping operate the farm. She also pushed turkeys, co-owned and operated the Little Sauk Feed Store and the Little Sauk Café, and raised Rottweilers, Akitas, and Welsh Corgis. Never afraid to learn something new, Marge returned to school to study computer software and later earned a small business degree. She then pursued a career in healthcare, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. While living in Texas, she worked as a juvenile court counselor and also served as a CNA in McAllen, Texas. She later returned to Minnesota, where she retired as a CNA from the Long Prairie Nursing Home.

Marge found joy in the simple things that made life rich. She loved horseback riding, playing bingo, crocheting, painting, crafting, reading, playing cards, completing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, gardening, and spending time with those she loved.

In 2020, Marge was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She spent two years living with her daughter, Jerel, in Florida before moving to Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich, Minnesota. As her family often said, she didn't go to Tree of Life to die—she went there to live. She shared meals with friends, always had someone to visit with, and was surrounded by compassionate caregivers who loved her like family. Marge had a wonderful sense of humor and was known for making both residents and staff laugh. She was rarely seen without a hat and was known for her fun and unique headwear. While Alzheimer's may have taken away her memories, it never took away her ability to enjoy the moment. She treasured every visit and every conversation, no matter how brief.

Marge is lovingly survived by her children, Patric Honer (Angela Hanson) of Sinai, South Dakota, Sonja (Mike) Estwick of Melbourne, Florida, Theresa (Tom) Petermeier of Sauk Centre, and Jerel (Mike Fritz) Honer of Cape Canaveral, Florida; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, who affectionately knew her as "GG” (great grandma).

She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Brenda Loken, on May 30, 2004; parents, Elliott and Mildred Hanscom;  sisters, Mary Ruth Rossell and Marilyn Schmidtke; and brother-in-law, Bill Schmidtke.

Marge will be remembered for her laughter, her kindness, her love of horses, and her unwavering devotion to family and friends. Whether she was riding horses, tending her garden, wearing one of her many hats, or enjoying a game of BINGO, she embraced life with humor and grace. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and treasured memories that will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich, Minnesota.