Margaret A. Dalbey

April 8, 1931 — February 8, 2017

Margaret A. Dalbey Profile Photo
Margaret Anne Dalbey, daughter of Merton and Mary Genevieve (Enlow) Barr was born April 8, 1931in Des Moines, Iowa. She was baptized at Gatchel United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. She graduated from North High School in Des Moines with the class of 1949 and attended a year of college at Stevens College in Columbia, Missouri.
On April 14, 1951, Margaret was united in marriage to Richard Dalbey, at Gatchel United Methodist Church. Two daughters were born Rebecca and Sara. In 1961, Margaret and Richard moved to Harlan, Iowa and partnered with Earl Christensen at Christensen Vet Clinic. In the late 1960's they moved to Audubon for some time then came back to Harlan in 1970. In 1975, Richard and Margaret moved back to Des Moines, where she worked as the church secretary for First United Methodist Church.
Margaret was very involved in the arts and participated in the Drake Choir, Western Iowa Arts Association and Community Theatre. Margaret was a member of Sunny Sound Trio with Jan Rau and Marjorie Tollefsboll, they performed all around southwest Iowa. She was also a part of the UMC Women group and served as the youth choir director and was a member of the Eastern Star. Her hobbies included sewing, gardening, her love of music, playing the piano and singing.
In 1996, Margaret retired from the church and moved back to Harlan, where she enjoyed completing crossword puzzles, spending time with her family and having lunches with friends. She also enjoyed out-of-town adventures with friends. She especially loved the time spent with her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Margaret died on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 surrounded by her loving family at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, attaining the age of eighty-five years and ten months. Including her parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law Cole Findlay.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, Dr. Richard Dalbey, DVM of Elk Horn, Iowa; daughters Rebecca and her husband Michael McNabb of Omaha, Arkansas; Sara Findlay of Panama, Iowa; grandchildren James Shields and his wife Kaila of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Katy McNabb of Houston, Texas; Amanda Findlay and her fiance Marcus Erwin of Harlan, Iowa; great-grandchildren Camden Shields of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Madden Rooney of Harlan, Iowa; brother Merton Barr and his wife Louise of West Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.

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