Margaret L. Trondson, 88, Minot and formerly of Berthold, died Tuesday, November 15, 2011 in a Minot Adult Fostercare home.

Margaret was born July 19, 1923 on the family farm, west of Berthold to George and Ruth (Varnes) DeBilt. She was the oldest of 6 children. Margaret graduated from Berthold High School in 1941, and received her teaching certificate from Minot State Teachers College the following year. She taught for 2 years in a small school near Plaza.

In 1944, Margaret took a train to Massachusetts to marry the love of her life, Carl Trondson, who was stationed there while awaiting his orders to be deployed to the European Theater of World War II. They were married June 17, 1944 and spent a month together before Carl left for France. When Carl left for Europe, Margaret took the train back to Berthold and a few weeks later got back on the train and left for Portland, OR to work in the shipyards. While in Portland, she rode her bike back and forth to work being pregnant with her oldest child. Her mother, Ruth took the train to Portland a few months later and brought Margaret back to Berthold to have her baby.

Margaret and Carl owned and operated Trondson's Texaco service station in Berthold for 33 years, where she ran the lunch counter for several years, serving her famous hamburgers. They were especially popular after basketball games. She and Carl spent their last twenty-five years in Sun Lakes, AZ and thoroughly enjoyed their retirement. Margaret made many great friends through her golfing and bowling exploits. Carl died on March 12, 2007.

Margaret was an avid sportsperson, who grew up playing kittenball (softball) with many of her neighbors. Later in life, she enjoyed golf, bowling, and dancing. Margaret was most proud of her 10 holes-in-one playing golf. She also won many bowling trophies over the years.

Margaret is survived by her children, Dick (Sandy) Trondson, Garrison, ND, Karla (Ed) Carrillo, Spokane, WA, Monty (PJ) Trondson, Underwood, ND and Ted (Peg) Trondson, Minot, ND; 7 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Eleanor Pietsch, Minot, ND, Dorothy (Bob) Roise, Fairfield Glade, TN and Verna (Lowell) Skabo, Colorado Springs, CO; sister-in-law, Thelma DeBilt, Berthold, and brother-in-law, Ken Linster, Eugene, OR.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband of sixty-two years, Carl, brother, Bill DeBilt and sister, Maridell Linster.

Celebration of life service: Monday, November 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in Berthold Baptist Church.
Interment: Wildrose Cemetery, Berthold, ND, later in the spring of 2012.
Visitation : At the request of the family, there will be no reviewal, however friends may sign a register book on Sunday from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Trinity Hospice.