Margaret Berntson, 87, Minot, formerly of Max, died Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 in a Minot nursing home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 30th, 2017 at 10:30 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Max.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 4 - 7 at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.

Margaret was born on October 21, 1929 to Herman and Nettie Durow. She was raised and educated in Max, graduating from Max High School in 1947. She married Glenn Berntson on November 13, 1949. They made their home in Max and raised their sons, Robert and Gerald.

Margaret was a very active member of the ladies aid at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Max. She also loved to garden and then can all of the wonderful harvest from her labor. She had a contagious laugh. Everyone knew when Margaret had entered the building, as you could hear her visiting and laughing with anyone and everyone. Visiting, after all, was a pastime. She very much enjoyed her time with people that would stop over, especially neighbors. That time always involved a cup of coffee and without question, a cigarette. One of the common conversations with her neighbors was complaining about the neighborhood cats that wouldn't leave. They finally figured out that they stayed around because they fed them, talked to them, and gave them attention. Dang cats! One of Margaret's true loves, however, was children, especially her grandchildren. She was never afraid to get down on the floor and play and visit, and maybe a little teasing every now and then as well. She will be missed but never forgotten.

She is survived by her children, Robert (Bonnie) Berntson, Minot, ND and Gerald (Candace) Berntson, Garrison, ND; grandchildren, Teresa Berntson Hynson, Laura (Brad) Jacobson, Timothy (Tracy) Berntson, Dustin (Jill) Berntson, and Benjamin (Marisa) Berntson, greatchildren, Olivia and Nicholas Hynson, Owen and Haylie Jacobson, Anna Berntson and Max Berntson, Emily and Megan Berntson, Bailey, Brendan, Brooklyn, and Blaze Berntson, step great grandchildren, Ashley Hynson and Mikhaila Hynson, brother, Forest (Joan) Durow, and sister-in-law, Mabel McBain.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Glenn, sister, Irene Songstad, brothers-in-law, Nels Songstad and Robert Mcbain, Wallace and Ida Berntson, Robert and Harriet Halverson, Elwood and Gladys Berntson, Philip and Dolores Johnson, Bert and Ella Mickalenko, and Amanda Berntson.