Margaret Marie Belongie

Margaret Marie Belongie, 88, of Iron River, Michigan, passed away Saturday, May 25, 2019. Margaret was born, January 28, 1931 in Stambaugh, Michigan, daughter of the late Carl Algot Nelson and Thyra Augusta Johnson. Margaret graduated in 1948 from the Iron River High School. On November 22, 1950 she married the Love of her life, Merton E. Belongie, to whom she was married for 61 years and had five children. They resided in Iron River until 1969 prior to moving to Wakefield, MI for work at White Pine Copper Mine. After retirement in the 1980’s, Margaret and Merton returned to Iron River where they resided ever since. In her youth, Margaret worked at various stores in the Iron River Community before becoming a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and finally great-great grandmother. Margaret and Merton’s union resulted in an extended family twenty-four children including grandchildren. Besides keeping tabs on her children and keeping the household during her retirement years Margaret could be found accompanying Merton to the Elks Club, VFW, Duda’s, or on the archery course to enjoy rubbing elbows with friends as Mert played cards, billiards or archery. Margaret is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Merrow of Portland, OR, Patricia Ann (Michael) Hautala of Ramsay, MI, Barbara (Kurt) Niemi of Marquette, MI, Kim (Gerald) Johnson of Waukesha, WI, and son, Craig Belongie of Marquette, MI. She was preceded in death by her husband Mert on October 1, 2012, her father in 1980, mother in 1941, stepmother Nora (Brewer) in 1963, sisters Joan M. Ghiotto in 1973 and Marjorie Nelson in 1992, and brother Carl Nelson in 2007. Margaret will be deeply missed by family and friends.              Private family services will be held. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Margaret Marie Belongie, please visit our flower store.