Margaret Ann Ohlquist, age 96, passed away July 21, 2026. She was born on July 29, 1929, in Badger, MN, to Maurice Rubin Ohlquist and Myrtle Alice (Bakken) Ohlquist. She had one brother, Maurice JR, with whom she quoted, “My very special brother whose bond will never break.”
When growing up, she and her brother Maurice JR would help on their small farm in Badger. Her hard-working mother and father kept her and her brother, Maurice Jr., helping on their small farm; they helped their father in the fields. Her mother would go to North Dakota to work at cafes to help out during potato harvests. Margaret later in life also worked cooking during the Potato Harvest in Karlstad, Mn.
She attended a country school till the 9th grade, then went to Badger and completed High School. At the age of 15, she moved to Roseau and lived at the Gray Inn to start making money working as a waitress in the summer at the local diner in Roseau, where she met Arvid Knutson. They fell in love and were united in marriage on June 14, 1947. They moved to the family farm West of Roseau, where they raised grain and cattle. They attended Rose Lutheran Church. They had 5 children, 2 girls, and 3 boys. Arvid and Margaret were married for 37 years.
Through the years, she worked as a waitress at multiple cafes such as the Encore Cafe, Christy’s Cafe, and Brandt’s Cafe. She worked at Marvins for 4 years and retired in 1991.
She later met Fred Smith, her fiancée, whom she had been with for 20 years. She said, “I had a beautiful life with” He stayed with me for 20 years until he passed away, she wrote. They bought 3.5 acres of land together near Badger; she called it “My ranch for retirement”. She looked forward to long days of sunshine and the outdoors. She wrote, “I love to cook, bake, embroider, quilt, sew, garden, and visit with my many friends and family”. Her & Fred also loved to go to old-time music dances in all the towns. They put on many miles together in her Cadillac and his truck.
She moved to Roseau in 2016 after having some health issues. She was a proud member of the ladies auxiliary since 1977.
She loved to entertain her family and friends. She also would make sure to have her table decorated with special tablecloths, placemats, napkins, dishes, candles, and always included a fake flower arrangement. Her favorite thing to serve was angel food cake with her 7-minute frosting.
Margaret had a LOVE of fashion, and we mean LOVE; she had to have outfits for EVERY Occasion with matching jewelry, purses, and shoes. Also, her makeup was always done, including eyebrows and RED lipstick ALWAYS!! She had a hair appointment EVERY Thursday.
She is survived by her children, Dennis (Vivian) Knutson, Donald (Carol) Knutson, Sharon Grindahl (Dennis Starren), Dale Knutson, and Bev Knutson (Pat Gordon). 7 Grandchildren: Kathy (Steve) Aronson, Dawn Ewer, Christopher (Dawn) Knutson, Barb Sehlstrom, Sara Beth Knutson, Aaron Grindahl, and Allen (Jacki) Grindahl. 10 Great Grandchildren: Matt Sehlstrom, Branden Sehlstrom, DJ Ewer, Harlee (Emmie) Aronson, Cheyenne Wojo, Wyatt Aronson, Bo Knutson, Evan Grindahl, Aliyah Grindahl, and Mariah Grindahl. 10 great-great-grandchildren, many special nieces and nephews, and her special friends Gayle (Raymond) Grindahl.
Margaret always said, “Thank God for children, grandchildren, and my special friends.”
She is preceded in death by her parents Maurice and Myrtle Ohlquist, her brother Maurice JR. Arvid Knuston, Fred Smith. Her aunt Alice Ohlquist. Her Great Granddaughter Aliyah Grindahl.
This is a quote that she had attached to her Obituary papers:
“Life can be long or it can be short depending on what you make of it and what counts the most to you.”
Family and Friends are invited to a celebration of life for Margaret on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 11:00 service. A visitation will be 1 hour prior at the Rose Free Lutheran Church in Roseau, MN. A light lunch will be served following. Her burial will follow the service at Nannestad Cemetery in Badger, Minnesota.
Last modified: 07/27/2026
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