Marguerite E. Klagge, 97, of Austin, Minnesota, died on Saturday, July 9, 2016, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin, where she had been a resident since July 25, 2013.

The younger of two children, she was born on June 23, 1919, to William C. and Inez M. (Palmerton) Jeffers in Austin. She attended Austin High School and graduated in 1937. Marguerite married Arthur E. (Art) Houston on April 22, 1939. They had one son, Jeff (born in 1943), and eventually divorced in June, 1948. From 1949 until early 1952, Marguerite worked in Austin as a waitress, first at Nelson’s Grill, and then at the Sterling Ice Cream Store, co-owned by Elmer L. Klagge, her future second husband, whom she married on Feb. 14, 1952.

In addition to being a housewife, Marguerite handled all of the bookkeeping duties for Klagge’s Ice Cream Store and restaurant (located on Fourth Avenue Northeast in Austin) from 1952 until Elmer sold the business in 1964.

She also worked as a part-time sales clerk behind the cosmetics counter in Younkers Department Store from 1958 to 1973 at its original Austin location in the Sterling Shopping Center. Marguerite was a member of First United Methodist Church in Austin.

Survivors include her son, Jeff Houston of Austin, Minnesota; step-granddaughters, Debra (Thomas) Stevens of Austin, Minnesota; Jill Getchell and Jim Queflander of Great Bend, Kansas; Melonee (Marcus) Killman of Great Bend; nephew-in-law: Rev. Earl Clark of Springfield, Illinois; members of Jeff’s extended family: his brother, Dale Hoium of Red Wind, Minnesota; former sister-in-law, Nancy Hoium of Austin, Minnesota; Jeff’s niece (Marguerite’s “grand-daughter”) Valery Hoium of Hager City, Wisconsin; grandnieces, Madison Hoium Schultz of Red Wing, and Samantha Hoium Schultz of Hager City; grandnephew, Spencer Hoium Schultz of Hager City; various other nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, and step-great grandchildren, etc.

Marguerite was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer L. Klagge; brother, Grant P. Jeffers; niece, Karrol Clark; step-daughter, Gayle Larson; and step-son-in-law, Robert W. Larson.

A closed casket visitation will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 11, 2016, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary in Austin, followed by a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery with Chaplain Elizabeth Endicott from St. Mark’s officiating. Friends may greet the family at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary from 2 to 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

Special thanks to all of the various staff members (past and present) at St. Mark’s particularly Mindy, Lisa, Robbie, Genely, and Zhudonna, as well as Sarah Lysne from First United Methodist Church, St. Mark’s Chaplain Elizabeth Endicott, and the St. Croix Hospice personnel for the attentive care and many kindnesses bestowed on Marguerite during these past three years.