Margaret Marie Mitchell Griffin was born on July 17, 1928, in Deer Trail, Colorado (in Arapahoe County)—the home of the first rodeo in America, in 1869. Her parents were A. Earl Mitchell and Hilda A. Brand Mitchell. They were farmers who leased land when Marge was little, though Earl began driving trucks in 1935. The log house Marge was born in is now on the Centennial Park Museum site in Deer Trail. She remembers being very poor and Saturday night baths in the washtub behind the cook stove. Marge had three younger sisters. She lost one a few years ago; the other sisters now live in Denver and Phoenix. Her little brother, Donald Ray, died in 1935 of diphtheria as a baby. Marge went to Deer Trail school until fifth grade. She is still in touch with some of her classmates from that school.

The family moved often and landed in Aurora in 1939. In Aurora, the family lived in a one bedroom house. Earl did various jobs and found work eventually as a mechanic, which he did until he retired. Marge took care of her three younger sisters when her mother began working for the Remington Arms plant outside Denver in 1942. Her father was frequently gone and Marge and the little sisters were truly “latchkey” children during the war years. Marge went to Aurora Elementary, then Baker Junior High. The family moved to west Denver. She went to Garden Home High School, which where she met her future husband, Harold.

Marge left home at sixteen, lived on her own, and did a variety of jobs. She ran elevators in downtown buildings, and was called an “elevator pilot.” She lied about her age and got work at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. During the war she worked as an inspector of white phosphorous cups used in the incendiary oil bombs. She was transferred to Fitzsimmons General Hospital after the war, living in the nurses’ quarters on the hospital grounds. Marge was very independent, never got in trouble, and “had a good time all the time.” She knew Harold’s sisters and she and Harold began dating in 1945 when he came home on furlough from the Air Force. In 1946 they married at Redeemer Lutheran in Denver.

Harold was a mechanic crew chief on B-26 aircraft. Due to his knowledge of aircraft, Harold was needed as a mechanic and never went overseas until after the war. He served in Hawaii after WWII and was discharged in 1946 from the service. He was a plaster worker, then a carpenter, then an acoustic contractor in Fort Collins in 1970.

Marge and Harold had Konstance in 1950 and Kenzie Bruce in 1951. Kelly Ray was born in 1960, but died in 1963. The kids went to school in Westwood and graduated from Alameda High School. Konnie now lives in Spring Texas, where she has two children and two grandchildren. Kenzie lives in Morrison, Colorado, where he had three children and three grandchildren, all of whom live in Colorado. Marge is blessed with several grandchildren and great grandchildren who live in Fort Collins.

The Griffins built five homes during their married life. They moved to LaPorte in 1970 on 5 acres and built a home in Rolling Acres behind Vern’s, where they lived for 26 years. Marge had graduated from beauty school in 1963 and worked as a barber and beautician. She owned her own salon from 1970 to 1975. She worked in LaPorte from 1982 to 1996 in her own shop.

Marge’s dad was murdered in 1984. Pastor Nickel officiated the funeral. She wrote a book, Futile Warnings, about the end of her father’s life and the surrounding police case. Writing the book helped her feel closure about the terrible circumstances.

They moved in July of 1996 to Trinity Texas for Harold’s health. They built a home in a golf course community. Marge continued working in Texas. Harold died in 1997. Pastor Willie officiated at her husband’s celebration of life. Marge remained in Texas until 2000, but was eager to return to Fort Collins and her church home. When she did return to Colorado, she lived with Kenzie until her home was built in The Ponds. Marge worked from a mobile salon in assisted living locations and in private homes. She still has a salon in her basement today. Marge also worked as a courtesy clerk at Safeway for 12.5 years, from 2000 to 2012.

Marge loves her church home and says it is a pleasure to be back. She works in the church office each week, was a Lay Minister for eleven years and in the Mission Guild since 1970. She still supports many Saint John’s activities, most recently supporting the VBS and always attending Elderberries activities. Marge is also very involved in her community. She is in the High Country Mustang Club, Red Hat Society, Pioneer Association, Old Timers Club in Deer Trail and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Marge greatly appreciates all the comfort, support and love she receives from Saint John's. She draws close to the Lord through her prayers and church. She was particularly thankful for the church family when faced with the deaths of her son, husband and father. Marge loves the Lord and her brothers and sisters in Christ. She is too attached to her many supports in Fort Collins to consider a move, despite her family’s encouragement to relocate to Denver. She feels her faith has been the greatest blessing of her life and wishes the same for all those she loves.

Get to know your family at Saint John’s! Each month we interview another of our long-time members to find out about their life, their Christian journey and their history at Saint John’s Lutheran.