Services for Margaret Maude Baller were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson, with visitation from 8:30 a.m. until time of service.
Pastor Timothy Jones of the Trinity Lutheran Church provided words of comfort. Hymns chosen were “The Old Rugged Cross” and “How Great Thou Art.” Interment took place at the Jefferson Cemetery. Following the services at the cemetery was a luncheon at the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson was in charge of arrangements.
Family legacy of love for Margaret Baller: five children, 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; husband, Lloyd Baller (married 67 years, died 2002); Charles (Cork) and Nancy of Parker, Colo.; Chris, Julie, Jenny; Ashley, Tyler, Jordan, Rylee, Megan, Kyla, Luke, Blake; Michael (Mick) and Brenda of Denver, Colo.; Scott, Lance; Cameron, Braeden, Reeves, Avery, Katy, Sydney, Will; Jim and Jan of Aurora, Colo.; Jeff, Jon, Joel; Max, Carter, Jace, Emily, Drew, Nate, Jenna, Austin, Connor; Claudia Baller-Read of Aurora, Colo.; Michael, Becky; Treyvonne, Tristen, Jada; David and Connie of North Liberty, Iowa; Alex, Kelsey, Kasey (Devon, Ryan).
Honored relatives: Pauline Hall-Fauss, sister, 95 years old, of Norfolk, Neb.; Helen Hall, sister-in-law, of Norfolk, Neb.; Lanny Fauss, nephew, of Gretna, Neb.; Bradley Fauss, great-nephew, of Marietta, Ga.; Suzanne Fauss-Raeside, niece, of Norfolk, Neb.; Kathy Fauss-Goodwater, niece, of Battle Creek, Neb.; Julie Hall, niece, of Norfolk, Neb.; Jim Therrien, nephew, of Focistall, Mo.
Casket bearers were her fifteen grandchildren: Chris Baller, Julie Baller-Conaway, Jenny Baller-Wells, Scott Baller, Lance Baller, Jeff Baller, Jon Baller, Joel Baller, Michael Read, Becky Read-Downs-Williams, Devon Baller, Ryan Baller, Alex Baller, Kelsey Baller and Kasey Baller.
Honorary Casket Bearers were: Dorothy Adamson, Pearl Betts, Rolfe Blaess, Brenda Brewer, Dr. Laurie Connonlly, Ed Coover, Neva Eggimann, Sara Fleecs, P.A., Jim Giese, Vi Hoffman, Arlene Lashier, Bob & Janet Owens, Hollie Roberts, Charlotte Schmidt and Phyllis Trost.
Margaret Maude Baller came into the world Aug. 11, 1915, in Merna, Neb. She was the third daughter of Cloe and Claude Hall. She was blessed with two sisters, Virginia and Pauline, and two brothers, Jim and Bob.
The family moved to Norfolk, Neb., where Claude started a newspaper publishing business. Margaret worked for her dad while in high school, staying up many nights to meet deadlines.
She loved school and was an outgoing, involved young lady. We found in her scrapbook an article that said she was selected for the N-Ergizers, a group of leaders who cheered on and supported students in her school. Her note beside it was: “Being selected as an N-Ergizer was one of the highlights of my high school life!”
She was selected to work at the Granada Theater, which was a very big honor because she was in the ticket booth out front. It was here that she met Lloyd, and soon they fell in love.
They married on May 27, 1935, in West Point, Neb.
In 1937, they moved to Jefferson, Iowa, which would be their home until both of them passed away.
They put their faith in God and borrowed $500 to start a business on the square in Jefferson, Baller’s Auto and Home Supply.
Margaret and Lloyd wanted more than anything to have children and after three years, their prayers were answered. From 1938 to 1948, they had five children–Charles, Mick, Jim, Claudia and David. What a blessing they were, and what a great mom she was!
Life was very busy with five kids, but she was an organized and involved mom. She never stopped working on making a happy home for them all.
We found so many things in her scrapbooks, such as “10 Ways to Make a Happy Home,” handwritten paragraphs about her philosophy of raising children and ways to make sure they saved their money.
The whole family helped with the store, and it was a huge success, offering the latest in appliances and tires and bringing lots of excitement by selling the first TVs in town.
Margaret always kept the books for the business, and later in the 1950s she started Toyland in the store’s basement and became Mrs. Santa Claus for the entire community.
They were founding members of Trinity Lutheran Church and attended every Sunday. All the kids were baptized and confirmed in this church. Their Christian faith in Jesus was a cornerstone of how they lived and what they believed to be important.
The kids grew up, attended college and they all met their wonderful spouses and married.
Margaret was a loving mom and mother-in-law, accepting all her new in-laws with grace and love. She and Lloyd were at all their weddings.
Soon the era of grandchildren began and what an exciting time! Cork and Nancy had three children, (Chris, Julie, and Jenny. Mick and Brenda had two sons, Scott and Lance. Jim and Jan had three sons, Jeff, Jon, and Joel. Claudia had two children, a son, Michael, and a daughter, Becky. David and Connie had three children, Alex, Kasey, and Kelsey. David also had two sons from a previous marriage, Devon and Ryan.
The families all came home for Christmas and stayed in their family home for five days—all 23 of them! That is really togetherness, but Margaret loved it and never got tired of having them come.
She was running Toyland at the same time and making Christmas happen for half of Jefferson, so that shows you how organized, efficient, capable and on top of things she was!
Lloyd and Margaret retired from their beloved store in 1975 after 39 years.
In 1999 they moved to the Evergreen Retirement Community and loved living there, too.
Their highlights in retirement were spending winters in California with Claudia’s family. Another highlight was the whole Baller family going to Lake Boyd every summer for a week at Mick and Brenda’s house.
They spent time with each of the families, and there was nothing Margaret loved more than having the family together, laughing, visiting and playing games. Each family member has such wonderful memories of those special family times with Grandma and Grandpa as our kids were growing up.
Lloyd went home to be with Jesus in 2002. Margaret continued on with courage through the power of the Holy Spirit, investing her time in genealogy and creating wonderful scrapbooks, which she had done all through their lives.
Because of her countless hours on these activities, we have a cherished family history. Priceless!
Margaret was a great friend to all who knew her. She was loved and cherished by each family member. She was an amazing woman who inspired us all.
We had a huge 100th birthday celebration with all the family here in 2015. She lived to be 101 and three months exactly, and she was filled with joy, faith and happiness for all of that time.
She went home to be with Jesus on Nov. 11. Can you imagine her joyful reunion with Lloyd and her family who had gone on before her? We praise God for Margaret, for all she taught us, for how she loved us and for showing us how to live a joy-filled, faith-centered life.
We will all deeply miss her, yet we look forward to our heavenly reunion because of our salvation in Jesus Christ.
Memorials in Margaret’s name may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson.
