Magdalen Symonds

MAGDALEN E. "Maggie" (Geray) SYMONDS July 22, 1929 - October 21, 2014 Magdalen E. "Maggie" (Geray) Symonds, age 85, of Mahnomen, MN, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, peacefully entered eternity on October 21, 2014 at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND with her loved ones at her side. Maggie was born on July 22, 1929 in Fosston, MN to Joseph and Mary (Kaster) Geray. She attended the Allmon Country School near her home through the eighth grade and then went on to attend the Mount St. Benedict Catholic School in Crookston, graduating with the high school class of 1947. She attended college and earned her bachelor of arts degree in nursing. On September 19, 1950, she was united in marriage to Robert E. Symonds at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Beaulieu, MN. This marriage was blessed with nine children. The young couple made their home in the Crookston area until moving to Sioux City, Iowa in 1962. Maggie devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her family and, in addition, worked in the office of the Milwaukee Railroad in Sioux City for many years. In 1974, they moved to Cedar Rapids, IA where Maggie began working as a nurse at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in a career that spanned over 22 years. After the death of her dearly loved husband, Robert, in 1999, Maggie returned to her roots at Beaulieu, MN to help care for her aging father. She has continued to make her home in rural Beaulieu right up to the present time. She was a long time and faithful member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Beaulieu. Above all, Maggie will be remembered for her devotion to her children, grand children and great grandchildren who she loved with all her heart as well as her brothers and sisters and many precious nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who she dearly loved. She will be lovingly remembered by her children: LaDonna (Les) Tuton of Dilworth, MN, Linda (Mike) Wensel of Vermillion, SD, Roberta Chase of Norway, IA, Deborah (Robert) Michel of Russell, MN, Robert Symonds of Atkins, IA, Chris (Cindy) Symonds of Barnegat, NJ, Richard (Melissa) Symonds of Gill, CO and Brenda (Tim) LaFleur of Las Vegas, NV; 26 precious grandchildren; 26 great grand children and two great great grandsons; as well as eight sisters, two brothers and many nieces and nephews. Maggie was preceded in death by her husband in 1999; her son, Philip in 2008, a son-in-law, David Chase in 1998 and one grand daughter, Terra Wensel Ingram who died in 2011. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 AM Saturday, October 25, 2014 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Beaulieu, MN with Father Dave Super officiating. The song leader will be Jill Bisek-Miller and the organist will be Diane Spaeth. The casket bearers will be grandsons and the honorary casket bearers will be the rest of her grandchildren. Interment will be made next to her husband Robert and son, Philip in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery of Beaulieu. Following the service, the church will host a luncheon will be provided for all. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM Friday at the church, with a vigil service at 6:30 PM and will continue beginning 10 AM prior to the service on Saturday. To leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com. The Jones-Pearson Funeral Home of Park Rapids, MN was entrusted with the arrangements.