Margaret Law Melrose

JunJune 26^th, 1924 • NovNovember 3^rd, 2026

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Walking I become the center of my life.

Obituary

At age 102, having waited for two brothers to turn 1oo, Margaret died peacefully. She walked with strength and purpose almost to the end of her years.
Christened Edith Margaret after her mother, she was always called Margaret, affectionately known as Maggie by her brothers and lifelong friends. Born June 26, 1924, in Minneapolis to Reuben Walter Law and Edith Margaret Martin Law, she was the oldest of four and raised in part by her devoted second mother Hazel Harriet Hokanson Law.
Margaret grew up in Minneapolis and St Paul, graduating from Murray High School and the University of Minnesota. Proudly she donned a navy blue military uniform to serve in the WAVES during World War II. She married and raised her family in Anoka, Minnesota, becoming active in Trinity Episcopal Church, Girl Scouts, civic elections, and community theater. She was a devoted friend to many over her lifetime including friends from St. Anthony Park, WAVES, Anoka, Scotland and England, Minneapolis Hiking Club, Lake Harriet walkers, Minnesota Weavers Guild, and several book clubs.
An avid reader, Margaret loved book clubs, and always found kindred readers. Margaret treasured her library card as the way to satisfy her endless curiosity and quest to learn. Margaret honed her skills as a seamstress, outfitting her family and the Anoka Community Theater as lead costumer. She was always ready to tackle any project needing a bit of mending. Already an expert knitter, she learned to spin, winning a Blue Ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair for weaving Old English Sheepdog hair into yarn and then knitting an extremely warm sweater!
Margaret's husband Donald Melrose died of heart disease in 1987 at age 60. Margaret continued to travel, read avidly, volunteer, and walk every day but Sunday around Lake Harriet. She shared many adventures with her daughters including annual trips to the North Shore of Lake Superior, hiking over 175 steps to Devil's Kettle when she was 80. Margaret was the Law family matriarch, each family reunion bringing her joy and delight.
Margaret is remembered by devoted daughters Ann Melrose (Peter Engh) and Susan Melrose (Alan Bryan); cherished grandson Christopher Engh Fielding (Jackie Fielding); beloved brothers Walter Richard Law of Knoxville, TN; James Madison Law of Pompano Beach FL; David Charles Law (Linda Law) of Carson City NV; sister-in-law Jane Melrose Rozmiarek of Philadelphia, PA; and many nieces and nephews who adored her. This centenarian outlived her dearest friends.
Ann and Susan will always be grateful for the compassionate staff at Wealshire of Bloomington who lovingly walked with Margaret during her dementia years. St. Croix Hospice walked by our side during her transition. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorial celebration is pending. Take a walk today and remember Margaret.

Timeline

1924

Birth in Minneapolis, MN

June 26, Northwestern Hospital. Edith Margaret Law, always known as Margaret, took pride in being born in Minneapolis. She was baptised at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral where her parents Reuben and Edith had become acquainted while singing in the choir.

1941

High School Graduation

An adept student, Margaret graduated from Murray High School in St. Paul, MN. Margaret then worked and soon began classes at nearby University of Minnesota.

1944

U.S. Naval Service

With brothers Walter and Jim serving in World War II, Margaret was enticed by an enlistment poster for women. She chose a women's branch of the Navy, whose smartly tailored navy blue uniform appealed to her. As a WAVE, she completed boot camp at Hunter College in New York City and qualified to become a Link Instrument Trainer Instructor based in Atlanta, GA. Using a simulator, she trained pilots to rely on a flight instrument panel rather than visual cues. Margaret's Navy friends stayed closely connected all her life.

1949

College, Marriage, Children

Returning to the University after the war, Margaret completed at B.A. in sociology. She worked briefly as a social worker at Benton House in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, later visiting with grandson Chris who lived nearby while attending college. Margaret's brother Jim had a best high school friend named Don Melrose. Margaret fell in love with Don's warmth and charm, and they were married at St. Matthew's Church in St. Anthony Park, St. Paul. While living in Eau Claire, WI, Don completed his college degree at Eau Claire State Teacher's college, and daughter Ann was born.

1953

Second daughter

While living in tiny Mazeppa, MN, daughter Susan was born, three days before Ann's 4th birthday. Throughout their school years, Margaret excelled at organizing two birthday parties each fall and the "girls" always celebrate their September birthdays together.

1954

Anoka decades

Margaret was delighted to move to Anoka where Don continued his teaching career. She immersed herself in family and volunteer activities. Following her girls, she became a leader in local Girl Scouts. A self-taught seamstress, Margaret expertly chose patterns and fabric that showcased her talent in creating home-made fashion. She served in many ways among beloved friends at Trinity Episcopal Church.

1958

France interlude

Margaret's love of travel led the family to Orleans, France for a year where Don taught school to children of U.S. servicemen. Margaret organized family trips for each school vacation: Thanksgiving in Switzerland, Christmas in Germany, Easter in Spain, summer in England, Scotland and Wales. Margaret thrived on international travel that year!

1967

Seamstress extraordinaire

Drafted to be the lead costumer for the very first production of the Anoka Community Theater, Margaret rose to the challenge. She devoted herself to production sewing and relished the excitement of theater. She volunteered for many summers to showcase this theater group, now well-known in the metro area.

1970

Singing, weaving, reading

Margaret was born into a musical family, and eventually found time to join The Symphoknolls community chorus which once performed on the Guthrie Theater stage. Always one to learn something new, Margaret followed in her grandmother Victoria's footsteps and learned to weave. She bought a floor loom and eagerly expanded her skills and friendships through the Weaver's Guild of Minnesota. Always a reader, Margaret looked forward to Book Clubs, first at St. Mark's Cathedral. A book read by Margaret always came with notes and post-its to mark favorite passages.

1975

Travel

Margaret was deeply inspired by travel and knew how to plan and pack for amazing trips. In 1940 at age 16 she traveled through Canada to New Brunswick with her grandmother and aunts. In 1958 she shepherded the Melrose family through a year in Europe. In 1989 she boarded a freighter for three months from New Orleans, traveling through the Panama Canal , stopping in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile as one of twelve guests aboard. Margaret traveled to China, Australia, Turkey, many countries in Europe and always to her beloved England and Scotland.

1984

60 years young

To celebrate her 60th birthday, Margaret joined Woodswomen for a canoe trip on the Gunflint Trail, seeking a full circle back to her youthful adventuresome days! The younger women on the trip loved canoeing and camping with Margaret.

1987

Forging ahead

After years of living with heart disease, husband Don died of a heart attack at age 60. Margaret, only 62, rallied under unexpected new circumstances, bravely handling financial, house and travel decisions. She was uplifted by steadfast friends and family during her early years of widowhood.

1994

return to Minneapolis

At age 70, Margaret left Anoka and returned to the city of her birth, close to daughters Ann and Susan. She quickly became a regular daily Lake Harriet walker, once again making new friends along the way. Active at St. Mark's Cathedral, she joined a Book Club, supported music, and volunteered at Loaves and Fishes and Meals on Wheels until well into her 80s. She relished taking the bus downtown to her cherished Minnesota Orchestra and Guthrie Theater.

2004

80 years young

After years of dedicated morning walks three miles around Lake Harriet, Margaret easily celebrated 80 on her beloved North Shore by hiking into Devil's Kettle which meant going down and climbing back up over 175 stair steps.

2012

return to France, England and Scotland

At age 88, Margaret, still the intrepid traveler, was delighted to return with her daughters to Orleans, France and to England and Scotland to visit dear friends.

2024

100 years young

Longevity is key in the Law family. Margaret and her brothers Walter, Jim and David, live miles apart in Minnesota, Tennessee, Florida and Nevada. As you see in the photo gallery, they often traveled to be together especially after their father Reuben died at age 106 in 2005. Her brothers and nieces and nephews returned to Minnesota to celebrate Margaret's 100th birthday. She was thrilled to hear her family singing in harmony to her. She is very proud of her age and to the end thought of herself as a younger woman in her 80s.

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November 4, 2026

Ah! Dear Margaret! I truly began to think of her as immortal, and immortal she will always be, in my memory and my heart. A stalwart soul, Margaret was richly blessed with prodigious talents, high intelligence, and a well-developed sense of humor. The areas in which she chose to focus her artistic energies made many the beneficiaries of her generosity, but she could have chosen a host of other endeavors with equally spectacular success. I don't think of "having gotten to know her"; as my parents' friend and mother of my bosom companion Ann, she was just "always there," during my growing-up years and beyond. When, with Ann, I had a chance to pay Margaret a visit just a few years ago, I was astonished at her sharpness and so enjoyed her chuckling over even the most au courant joking, of visitors representing generations far younger than hers -- even in advanced age, she didn't miss ANYthing, and it's natural that her daughters would inherit her brilliance, insightfulness and wit.

I know it's superficial to mention physical appearance, but we all know how gorgeous Margaret was, all the way up to the end of her earthly life. The natural endowment of "good bone structure" imparted to her visage an ageless beauty amplified by her strong spirit and enthusiasm for life. Inspiring was her intrepidity when it came to foreign travel. Her adventuresome attitude doubtless contributed to her longevity.

May Margaret dwell with the angels in Heaven, as she meets her Maker and enjoys the fruits of everlasting life.

Margaret will dwell in my own heart forever.

Kristina Nilsson

November 4, 2026

Your mother was--and will continue to be--nothing short of an inspiration. As a young kid, I admired her for her kindness, her intelligence, and her "even-keel" disposition and neat appearance--even though I was unaware of her service in the Navy WAVES. Those impressions were affirmed whenever I encountered her much later in life.I was always delighted to see her at my "Fiddler under the Roof" shows.

Eric Nilsson

November 4, 2026

Margaret‘s daughter Ann is one of my oldest and best friends. We met at St Olaf in 1969 and have been friends since then. So, I’ve known Margaret almost as long. We bonded over our love of sewing and all things fiber related. She was so supportive of me in my career which involved a lot of sewing! I always marveled at her energy and sense of adventure. She was a force!

Jan Myers-Newbury