Marjorie Mae Bensley

Marjorie (Marge) May Bensley, 93, passed away at her Great Falls, Montana home on June 10th.  Marge Bensley was born to Mary Helen Nolde (Swartz) and Christopher Nolde on May 1, 1928.  She grew up alongside two sisters and two brothers on a ranch near Great Falls. She was a rock for her family, serving as peacemaker and providing assistance and support during hard times.

After graduating from Great Falls High, she married Doug Bensley of Great Falls. Marge and Doug were married for over 70 years before his passing in 2017.   Doug was on the police force and Marge worked at several local businesses including, Rainbow ice cream, Safeway, and Devine Asselstein Distributers.  She and Doug founded and operated Collectors Corner Antiques for over 60 years. She was very successful and was an expert due to her extensive research on antiques and their value.  They built their dream cabin on Holter Lake, Montana, having to haul every piece of lumber, every nail, and every piece of furniture over by boat since there was no road to their lake house.

Marge and Doug also had a winter home in Peoria, Arizona where they spent time going to estate sales and spending holidays with their Arizona relatives. She and Doug loved finding hidden treasures at estate sales, restoring precious antiques, and working in the shop where she enjoyed meeting new people.  Marge was known in town, as “the walker” as she walked upwards of six miles on a daily basis.  Marge had a dry wit, a strong personality and many life-long friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda of Billings, MT; brother, Harold Nolde of Phoenix, AZ/Whitefish, MT; and her sister, Dorothy Glynn of Connecticut; along with nine nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Lennon and brother, Robert Nolde.  No services are planned at this time.

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