Margaret “Meg” Nordquist

10/3/31 – 12/12/10

Margaret (Meg) Nordquist died peacefully December 12, 2010 after many years with Alzheimer’s disease. She lived a full life and spent her final days with her family at her side, and with the loving caregivers at Casa Rhoda.

Her parents, Peter and Delphine Ostriem, raised “Peggy” and her sister Mary in the small town of Sheldon, ND. Her childhood was a happy one, yet she was ready for bigger things. Once she earned her degree as an RN at Saint Luke’s in Fargo, she headed to Los Angeles and started her nursing career. One of her patients, Gladys Nordquist, liked her so much (as so many did over her forty years of nursing) she did some matchmaking, and soon her son Richard (Dick) Nordquist became Meg’s husband.

They lived in Los Angeles for several years, where their two daughters, Lori Moss (married to Bruce Moss) and Lisa Nordquist Goodman (married to Greg Goodman) were born. The family then moved to Detroit Lakes, MN, where Meg already had good friends and Dick hoped to enjoy the outdoor life. When Dick passed away, after a long illness, Meg decided it was time to head back to California. This time she chose her beloved Santa Barbara, where she had spent part of her honeymoon.

Meg loved to travel, and took every opportunity to do so. She even pulled up stakes and moved to Australia for a couple of years. She played the piano beautifully, and was always baking something delicious. Meg was valiant and steadfast through all the ups and downs of her life. She was a wonderful and generous friend to many, a great Mom and a fabulous “Grammy” to her two grandsons, Sam and Henry Goodman. She will be missed but not forgotten.

Meg was a long-time supporter of the Tri-Counties Blood Bank (902 Laguna St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101). Any donations you feel moved to make in her honor can be directed to them. A memorial service will be held for Margaret, Thursday, December 16th, 2pm at the Welch-Ryce-Haider Santa Barbara Chapel. Arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels.