Margaret Lilian Ragland

Margaret Lilian Ragland, age 89, passed away in her home on June 12th, just weeks away from her 90th birthday on June 29th.

Margaret was born in Grimston, England, to Arthur and Lily Lake. She worked in several factories and shops in her local villages. At age 20 she would meet a handsome young US Air Force airman, Eugene, who she wed in October 1956. She said goodbye to England and her family and she and Gene moved to the states in 1958. Margaret and Gene had a family of seven children and raised them in Mountain Home, Idaho; Del Rio, Texas; Germany; and Boise, Idaho. This year they would have been married for 69 years.

Margaret was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother She was always eager to visit with her loved ones and to hear about their lives. Her children vividly remember her love of all home related activities, to include cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, and knitting. She loved watching the birds, and could readily identify them by sight and by sound. She especially loved the robins that came to the yard in the summer, and was fascinated by the hummingbirds that came to her flowers and feeders. She was an avid yard and garage sale enthusiast and loved a good day out “hunting” for those bargains. “Will brake for yard sales” definitely applied!

Margaret was pre-deceased by her husband, Gene Ragland, in 2018, and by her beloved little dog and companion, Sarge. She is survived by her seven children: Janet, Wayne (Carolyn), Suzanne (Jeff), Deborah (Ruben), Cheryl (Glen), Deanne (Rick), and Crystal. She also leaves behind 14 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, as well as her remaining family of nieces and a nephew in England

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 30th, at the Bowman Funeral Parlor, located at 10254 W. Carlton Bay Drive, Garden City, Idaho. 

Following the service Margaret and Gene’s ashes will both be interred at the Idaho State Veteran’s Cemetery at 1:00 pm, with a brief service. The cemetery is located at 10100 Horseshoe Bend Rd, in Boise.