Marjorie Ritter

A lifelong resident of the Muskegon community, Marjorie Ritter was kind and gracious toward everyone she met. She was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker who was resourceful and deeply devoted to caring for the loved ones who were her greatest source of pride and joy. Later in life Marjorie was thrilled to become a grandmother, and when her family tree blossomed to include great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren there were simply more people to love. Accompanied by an unwavering faith, she was continually reaching out to others as she was a true reflection of what it means to serve others. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Marjorie created a brilliantly colored mosaic of memories that will be a lasting treasure in the hearts of her loved ones. With the end of WWI in 1918, America was recognized as a world leader for the first time and poised for greatness. Remembered as the Roaring Twenties, the following decade brought us times of great prosperity with radios, washing machines and refrigerators, and motion pictures in both color and sound being among just a few of the noteworthy ways in which our lives were forever transformed. It was as the promise of spring dawned on the city of Muskegon, Michigan, in 1921 that Ed and Elsie (Benson) Johnson were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. The big day finally arrived on March 24th when the healthy baby girl they named Marjorie Mae drew her first breath. She went on to be the oldest of four children in her family and was raised in the family home on Lakeshore Drive overlooking Muskegon Lake alongside her brothers, Thomas and Gordon, and her sister, Lois. In many ways Marjorie was a reflection of the youth of her generation. She was a bit of a tomboy as she usually preferred to be outside hiking, playing baseball, or just running around rather than inside playing dolls or having tea parties. As a student Marjorie attended Nims Elementary School and later went on to graduate from Muskegon High School in 1939. Although she attended cosmetology school with plans of becoming a hairdresser, she never actually worked in the field but just did hair for her friends and relatives on the side. As a young woman Marjorie began working at the Brenneman-Hartshorn Curtain Roll factory in Muskegon, which proved to be a fateful decision as it was there that she met the young man of her dreams. He was a fellow coworker named Lawrence Ritter, and sparks flew nearly right away. After dating for a time, Marjorie and Larry found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together the sweethearts were married on May 29, 1941. Soon after, the newlyweds were delighted to learn that they would become parents. Together Marjorie and Larry welcomed three children including Karen, Mark and Lori into their hearts and home. After being married for a few years the Ritter family moved into Marjories grandparents former home, which was right next to her childhood home on Lakeshore Drive. From the moment she became a mother, Marjorie fully immersed herself in the hustle and bustle of family life. She was actively involved in the lives of her children including in the PTA, as a homeroom mother, and a Girl Scout leader. They loved camping as a family, starting out in tents and later moving up to a small Shasta trailer before finally getting something much larger. For years Marjorie and her husband belonged to the Travel Trailer Club of the Midwest and went on regular trips with fellow members around the state. The Ritter family also had boats for a time including motorboats to take the kids water skiing and later, sailboats. A talented seamstress, Marjorie loved making costumes for Halloween for herself and her kids. She and Larry liked to polka and square dance, and she also put her sewing skills to good use making outfits for them to square dance in. As a child of the depression, Marjorie rarely threw things away, and she also made good use of just about everything. She commonly made things out of scraps like the the bundling strings from newspapers that she transformed into pot holders. Marjorie liked crocheting and making stuffed bears, collecting driftwood, and later in life going to yard sales to find treasures. For as long as she was able, Marjorie was an active part of her community. As a family they attended Central Lutheran Church where she was involved in a variety of ways including the annual meatball dinners, attending the mother daughter banquets, and helping with the harvest festival. She was also a member of the Danish Sisterhood. Later on when Central Lutheran closed, Marjorie went to Our Savior's Lutheran where she was also active in many activities including as part of the weekly quilting club even as her eyesight began to fail. She and her husband were members of the Muskegon Camera Club and processed much of their work their own darkroom. Marjorie especially liked taking black and white photos and color enhancing them with oil paints. Marjorie took great delight in her grandchildren, and she took care of them whenever she was needed. She also just loved going for walks with them, playing games, doing crafts and blowing bubbles. Marjorie liked feeding the birds and also had a green thumb for plants and flowers. Later in life Marjorie continued living fully in the moments she was given. Even after Larry died in 2006, she continued living on her own and keeping active at church. A blessing to everyone she met, Marjorie Ritter filled her days with the people and things she loved. She was a woman who was content in all things, and when challenges came her way she faced them head on. Marjorie will be remembered for her faith, her strength, and her unending love for her family. She will be deeply missed. Marjorie Mae Ritter died on Friday, February 20, 2015. Marjories family includes her son, Mark (Barbara) Ritter of FL; daughters, Karen (Thomas) Chadwick of Muskegon, Lori (Paul) Sietsema of Muskegon, 8 grandchildren; several great & great great grandchildren; sister, Lois Foster of Hesperia; many nieces & nephews. Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 2006; granddaughter, Becky Sietsema in 2009; Great-Grandson Jordan Armstrong, brothers, Thomas and Gordon Johnson; and many friends. Services will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015, 3:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon with Rev. John Ferra officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Memorials can be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church.