Margaret Hardy

Margaret Ann Hardy age 90, of Missouri Valley, Iowa passed away on Monday, February 18, 2019 at Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Margaret was born on April 16, 1928 to Preston A. and Myrtle (Christensen) Niles. She grew up at Preston Niles’ orchard on Highway 30 just east of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Margaret began her education at the country school and graduated from Missouri Valley High School in 1945. After graduation, “Markie” went to college at Iowa State University in Ames for one year. Following this, she taught for two years at a one-room country school north of Woodbine. During this time she met a young man from Logan named Robert Hardy at the Missouri Valley Roller Rink. She soon took him to church services and brought him along to hear a guest evangelist. Faith in Christ and the church were very important to Margaret. On June 5th, 1949, Markie married the love of her life, Bob, at the Baptist Church in Missouri Valley. After marriage, they began farming near Logan in Magnolia township and lived in the same farmhouse for 63 years. To their union was born three children: Carroll Wayne, Susan Gale, and Robert Niles. Markie was a hard-working farm wife and spent much time raising gardens for canning and freezing. She was very creative and painted in oils and watercolors, sewed and made pottery with Bob. She enjoyed watching birds as well, but her favorite pastime was planting and growing flowers. She had many beautiful flower gardens around the farmhouse; her yard was quite a showcase of outdoor beauty in the spring, summer, and fall. Family gatherings with her two sisters, Norma and Joyce, and their families were top priority, and common occurrences. Markie was also a Sunday school teacher at her church and a 4H leader. In 2014 Bob and Markie moved off the farm to a house in Missouri Valley. She was a member of the Missouri Valley Christian Church. Margaret is preceded in death by her beloved son, Robbie, sister and brother-in-law Norma and Richard Nelson, and sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Duane Hubbard. Margaret is survived by her husband of almost 70 years, Robert L. Hardy, her son Carroll (Kathy) Hardy of rural Des Moines; daughter Susan (Brit) Liljedahl of Missouri Valley; five grandchildren: Amanda Hardy, Nathanael Hardy, Justin (Tobi) Isbell, Daniel (Sara) Hardy, Diane Hardy, and three great grandchildren. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the Christian Church in Missouri Valley, Iowa. In lieu of flowers family would like memorials to be made out to Missouri Valley Christian Church or Harrison County Humane Society. In Loving Memory Of Margaret Ann Hardy Born April 16, 1928 Council Bluffs, Iowa Entered Into Rest February 18, 2019 Missouri Valley, Iowa Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 23, 2019 Christian Church Missouri Valley, Iowa Officiating Pastor Ron Wymer Piano Carroll Hardy Congregational Selections “It is Well With My Soul” “Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul” Final Resting Place Logan Cemetery Logan, Iowa (At A Later Date) Can there be anything more beautiful than young love? And the answer is given. “Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love.” Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. –Ecclesiastes 4:9 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. –Ephesians 5:31

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