Margo Lowery

Retired Brady farm and ranch wife Margo (Coghill) Burdick Lowery, 78, died Dec. 17, 2021, in Choteau after suffering a major stroke earlier in the year.



A graveside service will be held Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Choteau Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Choteau Senior Citizens Center.



Margo was born Jan. 10, 1943, to Opal (Burton) and Reo Coghill in Great Falls. She joined older brother Roy and welcomed younger brother Lyle seven years later. She attended elementary school in Collins, then transferred and attended Brady High School where she sang, played baritone and was a cheerleader until graduating in 1961.



She then married her high school sweetheart, Milton "Pudge" Burdick, in 1962 at the Choteau Methodist Church. Together, they farmed west of Brady and raised two children -- Lorran and Rob. She was a member of the Brady United Methodist Church and helped with bible school while the kids were growing up. She was an active partner on the farm, driving truck, cooking meals, and running for repair parts as needed. In her spare time, she loved to knit and made slippers for everyone. She also enjoyed flowers in the summer. She especially loved gladiolus and had a wide array of colors blooming in the late summer. Siamese cats were the only breed she would own and throughout her life, she had quite a few and all became a part of the family. Margo and Pudge enjoyed 33 years of marriage before the family lost Pudge to cancer in 1996.



After Pudge's death, loneliness became Margo's constant companion. After a time, she became reacquainted with a widowed friend, Joe Lowery, who brought her out of her lonely state. They married in Choteau at the Justice of Peace in 1997 and moved east of the Collins Interchange. Together they had 12 years of farming, dancing, gallivanting around and following the grandkids' events.



Margo's last years brought her, along with her Siamese cat, Chan, and her Elvis Presley memorabilia, to Choteau to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She often said, "I want Elvis at my funeral." So, her wishes will be followed.



She continued to follow her grandchildren's events and was very proud of all their accomplishments. KSEN Radio was always on in Margo's home, and she was well versed on the daily news and could sing along with most of the music played and especially liked to dance to the morning polka.



Going to the Choteau Senior Citizens Center became her daily ritual. You could find her there having lunch, playing cards and bingo, volunteering in the Cellarama, or just visiting and drinking coffee. Being around people was important for Margo -- she hated being alone and was constantly worrying about anything and everything. When she could not think of anything to worry about, she would worry about that!



She was preceded in death by her husbands and brother Roy.



Her survivors include her daughter, Lorran (Ross) Depner of Dutton; son, Rob (Tiffany) Burdick of Dutton; grandchildren, Ryan Depner and Garrett Depner of Dutton, Colie Burdick of Valier, and Cort Burdick of Ennis; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.



She also leaves behind her brother Lyle (Nancy) of Choteau, brother-in-law, Jim (Twila) Burdick of Phoenix and her sisters-in-law, Patti (Winston) Olson of Helena and Lana Coghill of Augusta, as well as many friends.



Memorials are suggested to the Brady United Methodist Church and the Choteau Senior Citizens Center.