(Apr. 3, 2009)
Mary Marie Burger, age 88, passed away Friday, April 3 at the Powell Valley Care Center. Mrs. Burger was born Sept. 13, 1920 in Belfry, Mont., the daughter of Henry Dotson and Mary Virginia Robbins Meridith. She attended and completed public school in Belfry. She married Charles (Chuck) Albert Burger in Powell on June 4, 1938. He was an electrical contractor the couple operated Modern Electric for many years and then the Radio Shack franchise in Powell until he retired in 1982. Chuck and Marie also owned and operated Chuck’s Liquors and Marie was the manager of the store.
Marie’s greatest pleasures were fishing, boating, spending time at Buffalo Bill Reservoir, gardening and bird watching. She enjoyed traveling with her husband Chuck on the National Field Trials circuit, with one of their Labrador retrievers earning the title of National Derby Champ. She enjoyed country music and especially appreciated the music of Bill Gaither because it uplifted her and strengthened her faith in the Lord. Her greatest delight was interacting with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and she was known and loved for her humor, inner strength, honesty and high ethical values which she so effectively transmitted to her family. She will be remembered for her quick, genuine smile and by her depth and strength of character which will continue to be an inspiration for generations to come.
She was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters, Edna Mucklow, Anna Lukenbach, Neva Bauer and Helen Koeppen.
Survivors include her two sons, Orville Edward Burger and Charles Arthur Burger of Powell; and her daughter Glo Marie Reetz of Powell. Grandchildren by Orville and Pat Burger include: Kevin Burger of Peachtree, Ga. married to Gretna; Kim McConnell of Somerset, Pa., who with her husband, Mark, has Marie’s great-grandchildren Connor, Kylie and Kenna; Krista Eaton of Ft. Collins, Colo., married to Scott. Grandchildren by Charles Arthur Burger of Powell and his wife ,Cherie Burger, include Jedidiah Burger of Cody and Channiel Jenkins of Basin who with her husband, Neil, has Marie’s great-grandchildren Allen, Angel and Brooklynn. Grandchildren by Glo and David Reetz include: Ginger Sleep of Powell who with her husband, Jason, has Marie’s great-grandchildren Mitchell, Vincent and Tori; Meredith Baxter of Powell who with her husband, Josh, has Marie’s great-grandchildren Paige, Carter, Kain and Mia; and Dana Crooks of Laramie, who with her husband, Adam, has Marie’s great-grandson Odin. She is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were conducted on Tuesday, April 7 at New Life Church in Powell with daughter-in-law Rev. Cherie Burger officiating. Lunch was served at Glad Tidings Assembly of God following the memorial service.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the administration and staff of the Powell Valley Care Center for the wonderful care they provided to Marie for the nine-plus years she was in the Center. Memorial contributions to Habitat for Humanity in care of First National Bank & Trust of Powell are welcomed by the family.