Margy Waddell, 84

Margy (Fuchs) Waddell passed away from cancer Oct. 18 at her home in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, with her daughters by her side. Mom was born on the family farm near New Leipzig, N.D., in the spring of 1940. She was the last of seven children born to Emil and Mabel Fuchs. Mom loved growing up on a farm and considered her siblings her best friends. Mom attended a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade. When she and her siblings went to high school, they lived in a boarding house in Mott, N.D. Mom graduated from Mott High School in 1957 and then went to cosmetology school. She married Dad, Larry Waddell, in 1958, and they had five children.

Mom and Dad moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in the early '60s and then bought a house in Dalton Gardens, where Mom resided until her passing. Mom worked hard to help Dad provide for the family, working as a motel housekeeper, taking in ironing, having a daycare and making Barbie clothes to sell. When Mom wanted to add an upstairs to the house, she and Randy, who was about 12 at the time, started tearing off the house roof. Dad wasn’t happy, but we did get an upstairs.

When Mom and Dad started The Sweep parking lot maintenance business in 1980, Mom ran the office and did all the billing. They created a great customer base and were well-respected in the community. Mom and Dad traveled to Europe in 1984, meeting Mary in England, where she served in the Air Force and traveled to many countries on the European continent. In 1998, Mom and Dad went to Hawaii and then to Guam to see Mary and Chelsea and have Thanksgiving there. They also traveled throughout the U.S. and went on cruises to Mexico and Alaska.

Mom was a wonderful mother and encouraged us to participate in sports, Scouts, Campfire Girls, etc. She volunteered at Dalton Elementary School while her kids attended there and was a Cub Scout and Campfire Girls leader. Mom and Dad respected education and were very proud that all of their grandchildren received a college education.

Mom and Dad were active in the community, belonging to snowmobile and ATV associations. After retiring in 2005, Mom and Dad sold The Sweep to sons Randy and Bruce and started wintering in Quartzsite, Ariz., where they loved riding their ATVs with their many friends.

Mom and Karin took several trips back to North Dakota so Mom could see her siblings. On the last trip back, all of her children went with her. Her children also went on a trip to Seaside, Ore., with Mom last year and made lasting memories for all of us.

Mom loved to do genealogy, crafts and decorate for every holiday. Mom especially loved Christmas, and once she started having grandchildren, it would often be difficult to navigate the house because there were so many presents for them. Once the great-grandkids started coming, she loved it even more! Spending time with family was a priority for Mom and there was always someone coming over to lose at Rummy against her.

Since the pandemic, Mom played Rummy online almost daily with Mary, who lives in Utah, and Mom won 90% of the time. If you were going to sit down and play cards with Mom, you had to accept that it was very, very likely that she would win. She loved winning and could get sassy with her comments to the losers! Mom also loved her plants and flowers and really enjoyed working in the yard.

Mom is predeceased by our dad, Larry Waddell; infant son Daniel Charles; her parents; sister Elenora, who passed as an infant; brother Vernon; sister Darlene; and foster grandson Jacob Foster. She is survived by her sister, Agnes (Ralph) Meidinger, and brothers Bernard (Lois) Fuchs and Harold (Mavis) Fuchs, and children Randy, Bruce (Tammy), Karin (Clayton), Martin and Mary. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Amanda, Jennifer (Nate) Clements, Justin, Mikaela (Mario) Martinez, Carrie (Andrew) Hartman, Samantha (Jack) Griffing and Chelsea; her great-grandchildren: Ashton, Josslyn, Emma, Alma, Charlie and Noah.

A service will be held for family and close friends at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hospice of North Idaho at 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, or by calling 208-772-7794 with credit card information.