Margaret “Marge” DeVoogdt, of Devils Lake formerly of Tokio, ND, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, at Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake at the age of 100 years.
Margaret was born April 2, 1925, to Mike and Katherine (Schiele) Bachmeier on a farm in the sand hills, near Drake, N.D. Margaret went to county school and when she was 17, she attended school in New Rockford, N.D.
Margaret worked at a Café in New Rockford, and it was here that she met the love of her life, Joe DeVoogdt. Joe joined the Navy and while he was away, Marge stayed in New Rockford until he came home. Marge and Joe were married on March 12, 1946. They lived and farmed near Sheyenne, ND, for 3 years. It was during this time daughters Janelle (1948) and JoAnn (June 18, 1949) were born. In 1949, Marge and Joe moved to another farm to work, and their son Jim (1953) was born. In 1955 they bought a farm north of Tokio and their fourth child, Lindy (1956) was born. During the fall of 1956, they decided to rent out the farm and move to Anaconda, Montana. Marge and Joe and their children lived and worked in Montana for 4 years before moving back to the farm in Tokio.
In 1966, Marge and Joe bought the Tokio General Store, then Joe passed away Oct. 10, 1970, so Marge sold the Tokio General Store and moved to Devils Lake with Jim and Lindy as Janelle and JoAnn were already married and out of the house. Marge worked at Cox’s Bakery, Mercy Hospital and Sioux Manufacturing until 1978. In 1978, Marge’s son Jim and son-in-law Gary Grad bought the Westside Grocery and Marge ran the store for 11 years before retiring to enjoy her children and grandchildren. Marge eventually moved to the Oddfellows and then to Eventide Heartland Care Center.
Margaret is survived by her children JoAnn Grad and Jim DeVoogdt; eight grandchildren Wanda (Brady) Peterson, Eugene (Sally) LaMotte Jr, Polly Eckes, Kevin (Trish Asleson) Grad, Amanda (Andy DeMott) DeVoogdt, Cole (Rachael) DeVoogdt, Chris (Deb) Paré, and Allen (Cindy) Paré; 16 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren; brother Louie Bachmeier, many nieces, nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents Mike and Katherine Bachmeier, husband Joe DeVoogdt, daughters Janelle LaMotte and Lindy Paré; sons-in-law Eugene LaMotte Sr. and Gary Grad; four sisters, eight brothers, two grandsons Kenny Grad and Clay LaMotte.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, Oct. 17 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with burial to follow immediately at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford, ND.
