Margaret Ann "Maggie" (Sjule) Larsen, 66, of Hardwick, Vt., and Salt Lake City, Utah, formerly of Bottineau County, N.D., died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at her home in Salt Lake City.

Maggie was born Dec. 6, 1942, to Ray and Stella (Krogen) Sjule in Bottineau County. She grew up on the family farm near Carbury, graduating in 1960 from Dakota Lutheran Academy in Minot, N.D. Maggie was married Oct. 14, 1962, to Frederic Larsen at Turtle Mountain Lutheran Church, near Carbury.

She resided over the years in Minneapolis, Minn., Salt Lake City, Luzerne County, Pa., and Hardwick, Vt. Maggie's life was marked by her music. She sang wherever she went. Finding a church or community choir was an essential element of moving to a new community.

In 1989 she enrolled in the University of Utah to pursue the life-long dream of a college degree. A most treasured memory from that experience was encountering her three sons on campus between classes. She loved and thrived in the collegiate setting, graduating cum laude in the class of 1994.

She spent many hours caring for and feeding people no longer able to perform the basic tasks of living. Her grandchildren were the joy of her later years. The greeting "Hi, Grandma" invariably led to the high point of her day. The essential memory of Maggie is found not in what she did but who she was. Her life was always about others. Even in her final illness her expressed desire was only that she be a blessing to others.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands." Psalms 31:14,15.

Maggie is survived by: her husband, Fred; her three sons and their families, including eight grandchildren; Frederic Scott of Marietta, Ga., Patrick Luther of Hardwick, Vt., and Dale Thomas of Salt Lake City. She is also survived by her brother, Tom Sjule, of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews across the country.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Virginia Rasmussen and Vivian Hauge.

Memorial services: Will be held in early December in Salt Lake City and Hardwick.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to charities of personal choice or Samaritan's Purse.