- Date Of Birth: November 21, 1902
- Date Of Death: January 12, 2008
- State: Montana
Glacier Park Icon, Margaret Black (née James), died at her daughter’s home in Kalispell, Montana on Saturday, January 12, 2008, at the age of 105, surrounded by loved ones. She was born to Walter and Margaret (Terry) James in 1902 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the eldest of six children.
That year, they began the adventure of building St. Mary Resort on the east side of Going to the Sun Highway and, over the years, expanded it into a well-known destination resort, while hiring thousands of employees from all over the nation and the world to have exciting and memorable summers at St. Mary. As St. Mary grew, Margaret became the heart of the resort, captivating the love and respect of her employees, many of whom will remember her as a wonderful, gentle, and generous friend. She and Hugh maintained a friendly and neighborly relationship with the Blackfoot Tribe. Margaret became Glacier’s leading business women and continued being a hands-on president of the corporation until she was 98 years old; in her 90’s, she became computer literate. She traveled each year to St. Petersburg, FL and St. Paul, MN.
Margaret kept an active and open mind. She loved music, poetry, and art. She enjoyed hiking and horseback riding, relishing everything Glacier had to offer. She encountered, with delight, nature in all its forms; the mountains around the St. Mary valley will echo with her laughter for years to come. She was a gracious and frequent hostess. She was a benefactor to many causes. Her Church was an important part of her life and she was awarded the position of Dame of Malta. She will be dearly remembered by those who knew her over her lifetime. It can truly be said that this was a woman who raised a village.
Margaret is preceded in death by her husband and her son, Lucky (James) Black. She is survived by one sister, Jean Arthur, and five children: Hugh M. Black (Mary Grace) of Helena, MT, Patricia A. Huberty (Robert) of St. Paul, MN, Roscoe W. Black (Susan) of Sun Valley, ID, Terry Cosgrove of Missoula, MT and Sally Black Welder (Terry) of Kalispell. MT, she had 19 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Margaret’s family.
