Marjorie Tavegia Zupan

Marjorie Tavegia Zupan, 87, quietly passed away May 11, 2010 in Powell.

A rosary will be held Thursday, May, 13 at 7 p.m. at St Barbara's Catholic Church. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. at the Church. Public viewing will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the services.

Marjorie was born December 2, 1922 to Otis and Florence (Schneider) Teegarden at the family homestead near Upton, Wyoming. She was the eldest of 8 children. She graduated from Upton High School in 1940 and having completed the ‘normal’ training during her senior year in high school, taught in a country school the following year. After the family moved to Montana in 1942, Marge taught school in Luther, Hogan and Roberts in Carbon County, then in Belgrade, Montana, and ended her teaching career in Powell, Wyoming, She attended summer school for many years at Eastern Montana College and earned a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 1962 and later a Masters Degree from the University of Hawaii.

She married Thomas Victor Tavegia in 1943 and to that union, two sons were born: Thomas Merle Tavegia in 1943 and Larry Jack Tavegia in 1945. The marriage ended in divorce in 1948.

In 1971 Marge married Mark Zupan and they enjoyed their retirement years together whether it was making their own applesauce and famous cabbage rolls (sarmas) or taking cruises or traveling to Florida and Hawaii.

She had a special trip to Europe with her sisters and aunt and she was interested in every thing and every person she met. Marge made friends everywhere she went and before long she had a long list of special people across the globe that she corresponded with and visited whenever possible.

She had learned to play the guitar and violin as a young child and that love of music stayed with her throughout her life. After her eyesight failed, she renewed her musical interest up to the last and included her singing and playing with the "Travelers", a senior citizen band, up to the week before her passing. After retiring, she became more active in pursuing her interest in art and developed her painting skills to a high degree.

We observed Marge throughout her life as she dealt with raising children and coping with difficulties beyond the everyday struggles of life including losing her vision in latter years and watching Parkinson's strip Mark of his independence. Her responsibility of being a long term caregiver had to be difficult but Margie never complained and always had a song to hum and a twinkle in her eye. She was truly a Rock of Gibraltar for our family throughout the years. We learned that she possessed incredible strength and fortitude and yet had a sweetness of spirit and gracefulness. She will be missed very much.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Zupan of Powell; her son Larry (Julie) Tavegia of Pinedale, Wyoming; grandchildren Michele Reiser of Townsend, Montana, Tanya Martin of Green River, Wyoming, Christy Tavegia of Pinedale, Wyoming, Misty Collinsworth of Collbran, Colorado, Lacey Tavegia of Pinedale, Wyoming; and 8 great-grandchildren; sister Dorothy Gustafson of Boise, Idaho, and brothers Bob Teegarden of Billings, Jack Teegarden of Boise, Idaho and Tom Teegarden, of Laurel.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son Thomas Merle Tavegia; two sisters Francis Betty Hill and Mary Jane Fletcher, and one brother Donald Otis Teegarden.

Marge’s family would like to thank her caretakers at Powell Valley Care Center for their caring and compassion, her many friends that meant so much to her and particularly Dr. Kelly Christiansen, Dr. Thomas Purcell, and Dr. Robert Merchant for their kind and thoughtful care.

Memorials suggested are the Parkinson's foundation, Books for the Blind, St Barbara's church or the charity of your choice.