Magdalena "Maggie" Davis Obituary (1923

Magdalena "Maggie" Davis, 92, Bismarck, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 30, 2016, while residing at Sanford Health Sunset Drive Continuing Care Center, Mandan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, February 5, 2016, at St Mary's Catholic Church, Bismarck with Fr. Robert Shea officiating. Visitation is scheduled for 5-7:00 PM, Thursday, February 4, 2016, with a vigil/rosary beginning at 7:00 PM, at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan. Visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. Maggie was born May 6, 1923, at Linton, North Dakota, to Henry and Brigetta (Kline) Harsche. She was the second of nine children raised on the family farm in Grant and Sioux Counties near Shields, North Dakota. As an older child of the family she was very proud of coaching her younger siblings with their schoolwork and serving as a grant County 4-H leader for four years. As a young adult, she used her skills preparing family meals to run a small caf in Shields which became a favorite stop for the railway workers. After moving to Bismarck, she continued to use her restaurant skills at a variety of cafes and diners. She eventually left restaurant work for regular day hours at Osco Drug where she was known for her speed and accuracy with the cash register. Bismarck is also where she met Ernest Davis, an employee of the Soo Line Railroad who happened to live next door. They were married on May 30, 1964. Life on the family farm colored the wisdom she readily shared with friends and family. "No matter how little money you have, there is no excuse for being dirty. Soap and water are cheap. Get an education; it's something no one can ever take away from you." An early proponent of recycling, she was often heard to remind us, "When we butchered a pig we used everything but the squeal." She was known to save every form of plastic container until rendered useless due to unfortunate warping in the microwave. An avid gardener, she used her small yard to cultivate an incredible variety from which she produced and generously shared a broad array of canned fruits and vegetables, pickles, pies, cakes, breads, and even delicious homemade wine. Affectionately called "Auntie" by her many nieces and nephews, she would correct misbehavior with a bribe of candy. The candy dish was never empty at Auntie's house. She would send her nieces into fits of giggles with her malapropisms, instructing them to use the nice "cobblers" (goblets) when setting the table. Family reunions and holiday celebrations filled with games-she played a mean game of whist-were her favorite events. After being widowed in 1980, she devoted much of her time to volunteer work. She would visit the elderly with baked goodies and help them write letters. For several years, she served as Eucharistic Minister for St. Mary's and did Pastoral Care at MedCenter. Being a civic minded citizen, she enjoyed what she liked to call "politicking". An avid campaigner, she frequently served as an election judge and was not shy about sharing her strong opinions with anyone who dared to venture into that arena. She proudly maintained her independence and remained in her home until the last two months of her life. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth (Rodney) McCrea; two grandchildren, Merit McCrea and Colin (Jo) McCrea; sister, Tillie Dilger; brother, Joe Harsche; and many nieces and nephews. Maggie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernest; sisters, Barbara, Anna, Helen, and Rose; and brothers, Emmanuel and Tony. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bismarck. Please sign her guestbook and share memories at www.dawiseperry.com. Funeral arrangements are being made with DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan, North Dakota.