Margaret Leah Applonie Turnblom

Margaret Leah Applonie Turnblom, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother left her earthly existence to return to her home on high, Tuesday, December 26, at 6:53 p. m. Embraced by her family, she reached to meet Palmar Felix Turnblom, her adoring husband after bidding tender farewells to all near her. She is hand in hand with him and their daughter Sarah Jane, her parents, Lawrence Nicholas Applonie and Eva Stratton, her brothers LeRoy and Donald, and her sister Evelyn.

Born in Riverdale, Utah, on October 30, 1929, Margaret grew up in a loving family alongside Evelyn, Donald, LeRoy, Robert, Dorothy, and Mary. As a proud graduate Weber High School Class of 1947, she received a scholarship to Weber College where she graduated in Business with the Class of 1949. While going to Weber College, she worked at Del Monte Canning Company to pay for her education. She worked as a secretary for Standard Electric, and also worked as an executive secretary for Swift and Company, a manufacturing plant in Ogden. While raising her children, Margaret also managed a Tupperware sales district in Northern Utah and sales in Heber City. She earned Diamond status year after year, her highest level being 600. Margaret managing the The Thread Shed in Heber City for over 17 years, sharing her knowledge and skill as a seamstress with friends and neighbors from near and far who came to visit and talk shop.

She married her sweetheart in the Logan LDS Temple on May 4, 1951. Margaret and Palmar shared 65 years together while raising a rambunctious family of eight children: Paul (Sandy) Turnblom, Karen Ratta, Steven (Marlene) Turnblom, Dominique, Diane (Brent) Peterson, Daniel (Joy) Turnblom, Cheryl (Alan) Bartholomew, and Laurie Turnblom. She is survived by the eight children she raised to maturity, 36 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. Coming from a large family she truly enjoyed family gatherings to the end, going into the hospital after her Christmas visits with her grandchildren this year.

Always up for fun, Margaret was an eager participant as she accompanied her children on night-time raids and high jinx. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother. A baseball broke her cheek while she was cheering one child during warmups in a baseball game while 7 months pregnant. She cheered at sporting events and attended the concerts, graduations, baptisms, marriages, mission farewells, and ordinations for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was an avid reader and instilled this in her posterity, always ready to read a story to small children.

Margaret was a longtime member of the Anissa Club. Her responsibilities in the LDS Church were Young Women’s President, Primary President, dedicated visiting teacher, organist, and ward pianist for decades. A gifted pianist, she accompanied travelling quartets in Brigham City and Heber City, served as the ward organist or Relief Society accompanist for many years, and could be found every Sunday, holiday, and just about any day at the piano, often surrounded by her children and grandchildren and their friends to sing along or rock out to the hymns and golden oldies.

Her life was an example of service. She made many quilts for the LDS Humanitarian efforts, served her neighbors and her friends willingly. She never refused the opportunity to serve others, whether she knew them or not. Always industrious, she also made many of the clothes her children wore while young. A frugal budgeter, she taught her family the value of a penny.

Margaret and Palmar shared an abiding love and respect for one another and devoted their lives to their family. They worked side-by-side in the garden and served together in the Lion’s Club and journeyed hand-in-hand through every step. When one couldn’t go, the other didn’t want to, and Margaret was quite bothered when Palmar decided to take the next step without her last January.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 6, at 10:30 a.m. in the Heber 1st Ward at the Heber North Stake, West Chapel, located at 325 East 500 North . Visitation will be Friday, January 5, from 6:00 – 8:00 p. m. and Saturday, January 6 from 9:00-10:00 a. m. at the West Chapel. In celebration of her life, donations may also be made to the LDS Humanitarian Services.

https://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/donations/lds-church/humanitarian-services.html

A graveside service will be held in Ogden, Utah, at the Washington Heights Memorial Park on Saturday, January 6, at 3:30 p. m. Condolences may be shared online at www.probstfamilyfunerals.com .