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Margaret Rose Olson Rininger, 77

Aug. 26, 1939 – April 14, 2017

Margaret Rose Olson Rininger was born on Aug. 26, 1939, in Kalispell, Mont. She was born and raised Catholic, but had a complicated history with the Catholic Church beginning at a young age when she was kicked out of Catholic school because she giggled too much. She was named after Princess Margaret, but had more in common with the country music of “Montana Rose.”

Margaret grew up in Kalispell and Missoula, Mont., and attended Missoula County High School and Sacred Heart Academy (when she could stay out of trouble with the nuns). She was a cheerleader and loved to run the hurdles. Her father was the projectionist at the Fox Theatre for 50 years and Margaret enjoyed sneaking in with her friends. She passed on her love for movies to all of her children and grandchildren.

Margaret was a huge sports fan and she literally lived for Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball. She could have died months ago but, because Gonzaga was undefeated at the time, she stayed around for Gonzaga’s first appearance in the National Championship game earlier this month. The family is certain that the loss of that game contributed to her death. She was also a huge fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Mariners and always had a game on the television year-round. She hated the New England Patriots, especially after Super Bowl XLIV when they defeated her Seahawks on the final play of the game. She was also an avid golf fan, following closely her favorite golfer, Tiger Woods. But, with Tiger out of contention this year, she didn’t have much of a reason to stick around for this season of golf. During the last year of her life, one of her greatest joys was being able to watch her favorite sporting events with her son, Jeff.

Margaret was also passionate about politics. She followed elections like she did her sports teams. She could name politicians and their voting records like they were the stats of her favorite athletes. She watched the news and C-SPAN daily and particularly liked political commentators Rachel Maddow, Samantha Bee, Bill Maher, John Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Margaret also enjoyed bowling, arm wrestling and dancing. Some of her best memories and biggest laughs were with her bowling team, who were like family members to her. The team was good enough to qualify for state, regional and national tournaments. She even insisted that the bowling team be invited to her daughter’s wedding in Mississippi. Margaret loved a good piano bar, but she and the team were kicked out of Pat O’Brian’s piano bar in New Orleans during the bachelorette party. When she wasn’t following her other passions, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Margaret enjoyed years of fun with her best friend Karen Tipp. Margaret and Karen enjoyed innumerable late night canasta games and other activities that included their children. Karen preceded Margaret in death by a couple of weeks and both families believe that Karen just wanted to get to the card table before Margaret so that she could deal the cards.

Margaret’s first job out of high school was as a telephone operator with Mountain Bell, but as she was not much of a “people” person, that job didn’t last. She also worked at Buttery’s Suburban and Larry Larson and Associates in Missoula before moving to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she made a career in insurance and worked for Rininger Insurance Agency and Empire Insurance.

Margaret was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband Gary Rininger. Margaret and Gary enjoyed playing golf with their good friends, especially Norm and Carol Ridge. They also enjoyed traveling and spending time after work with friends at the Midtown Tavern in Coeur d’Alene and dining out at their favorite restaurants, Seargant’s, Tony’s and Templins, where she would like for her friends to lift a glass in her memory.

Margaret was always very appreciative of the care she received in Coeur d’Alene that allowed her to stay living at home for as long as she did. Her nurse, Beth, at Dr. Pataky’s office and her neighbor, Jay Martin, were always there to help and do whatever was needed.

Margaret died on Good Friday, April 14, 2017, in Roseville, Calif., where she was living with her son, John, who cared for her until the end. As part of her care, John shopped, cooked, cleaned, took her to medical appointments and made sure that Margaret had her nightly martini.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, Gary (Coeur d’Alene); her infant daughter, Julie Marie Oestreich; her siblings, George Olson (Ogden, Utah), Ethel Cuplin (Seattle, Wash.) and Marvin Olson (Spokane, Wash.). She is also preceded by her nieces, Ruth Holman and Becky Cerovski; and nephews Brian Olson and Richard Cuplin.

Margaret is survived by her children, Joan Oestreich (Marysville, Wash.), Jeff Oestreich and John Oestreich (Roseville, Calif.), and Jennifer and her favorite (because he is the only) son-in-law Oliver Diaz (Flora, Miss.); grandchildren, Amber Stroscheim, Jessica Stroscheim, Brianna Oestreich, Justin Oestreich, Olivia Margaret Diaz and Oliver F. Diaz; four great-grandchildren, Daylin, Kylie, Austin and Hunter Lynn; and soon to be born great-great-granddaughter, Avianna.

She is also survived by her sister, Mary Katherine Maloney and her husband, Joe of Butte, Mont.; her sisters-in-law, Beverly Olson of Ogden and Sharon Olson of Spokane; her brother-in-law, Alton Cuplin of Seattle, Wash.; and by numerous nieces and nephews, Bob Cuplin, Steven Cuplin, Colleen Cebula, Pat Maloney, Donna Maloney, Holly Maloney, Teresa Mielke, Angela Lunden, Marlon Olson, April Olson, Matthew Olson, Curtis Olson and Kathy Dowell.

In lieu of flowers, Margaret would like for her friends and family to raise a glass to toast her spirit and to do a good deed in her memory.

After a memorial Mass to be held in Coeur d’Alene this summer, Margaret’s ashes will be interred at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 27, 2017, at the city of Coeur d’Alene Cemetery.

You are invited to visit www.blueoakscbs.com where you can share your thoughts and memories in the guest book, and view a photo album in honor of Margaret.

Finally, Margaret would like to say, GO ZAGS!