Margaret Louise Hodge, 81, of Austin, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on April 30, 2011, after a lengthy and courageous battle with multiple myeloma.

She was born April 1, 1930, in Stewartville, Minn., to Walter and Leona (Roberts) Engel. On Nov. 6, 1947, Margaret married Donald Hodge in Stewartville. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Austin and volunteered with the Ladies Circle at church. Margaret was also a member of the Sunshine Club. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards at many places including the Moose Lodge of Austin, cooking, word search puzzles, bird watching, tending to her garden and traveling. Above all, Margaret loved spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Donald C. Hodge; children, David (Valerie) Hodge of Oxford, Ohio, Kathleen (Ken) Kelly of Lincoln, Neb., James (Patricia) Hodge of LaMesa, Calif., Linda (Kent) Dudek of Chatfield, Minn., Joyce (Mike) Deyo of Apple Valley, Minn., Susan (Ron Mecklenburg) of Austin, Minn.; siblings, Pauline (Joe) Csercsevits of Morganton, N.C., Marcella (John) Polkowske of Fairfax, Minn., Paul (Diane) Engel of Naples, Fla., Janice (Dean) Wellik of Stewartville; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, plus one on the way and a host of other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Leona Engel.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Austin  802 4th St. SW, Austin, MN 55912. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, at Mayer Funeral Home 600 2nd St. NW, Austin and one hour prior to the service at church. Rev. Dr. Andrew Lindahl will be officiating with interment at Fairview Cemetery, Hayfield, Minn. Arrangements entrusted to Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, Rochester. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. (507) 289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.