Marjorie Elaine Thomas Good

Marjorie Elaine Thomas Good, 90, of Sterling, Colorado, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Visitation was held Tuesday at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home with funeral services Wednesday morning, June 23 at Christ United Methodist Church with Pastor Kristie Firme officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling, Colorado.
Marge was born the youngest of seven kids to James Weaver and Addie (Decker) Thomas in Wauneta, Nebraska. She lived with her family there for the first 18 years of her life. Because she was much younger than her siblings, she was always very close to her nieces and nephews.
She went to college first at Nebraska Wesleyan where she met Loren Good of Willard, Colorado. She later transferred to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where she and Loren were active in the Wesley Foundation. Loren and Marge were married Aug. 17, 1951, in Wauneta. They were married for 58 1/2 years and had five children: Glen, George, Gena, Gayla and GleeAnn.
Marge earned her bachelor of science degree in education with minors in science and home economics. She taught home economics and science in Grant before moving to a farm west of Merino, Colorado with her husband. In 1963, Loren began his career as Soil Conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His work moved them to Grand Junction, Flagler and Akron.
In 1975, Marge began working as a part-time lay associate at Christ United Methodist Church in Sterling. While working at CUMC, she felt called to the ministry and commuted to Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, earning her master of divinity degree in 1980. She was ordained as a UMC elder in 1982. Marge then served as a United Methodist minister in Last Chance, Merino, Julesburg, Ovid and Peetz, all in Colorado, and Casper, Wyoming. Marge retired from the ministry in 1996.
Marge was a 4-H leader in Washington and Logan Counties for over 30 years. She was proud to have founded Miscellaneous Mavericks 4-H Club in Akron and Grandma’s Gremlins 4-H Club in Sterling. She rarely missed an animal show and loved watching her kids, grandkids and great grandkids show their animals at the fair.
Marge and Loren spent many evenings supporting their grandchildren at sporting events. She remained active with the Association of Retired Clergy in the Mountain Sky conference of the United Methodist Church. She was a dedicated participant in the Member Care Committee at Christ UMC. Marge regularly took communion to the nursing homes in Sterling and enjoyed visiting with the residents there. She was an avid reader and loved leading an adult Sunday School class where they discussed a wide range of books.
One of her callings was ministering to children through Vacation Bible School and confirmation classes. Marge loved quilting and could often be found working on various quilts, both at home and at the church. She was a remarkable seamstress who made prom, madrigal, and wedding dresses for several of her children and grandchildren. She even made her own wedding dress in 1951.
Marge enjoyed creating visual art with pencils, paint and chalk. She recently entered a piece into a local art show. Marge’s most recent passion was raising chickens and turkeys. She enjoyed teaching her great grandkids about handling and raising poultry.
In all areas of her life, Marge led with kindness, grace and a giving heart. She loved life and made each day count.
Marge was preceded in death by her husband, Loren Good; her parents, James and Addie Thomas; all six of her siblings and their spouses, Luella Thomas Mohler (Levi Mohler), Lena Irene Thomas Lingelbach (Melvin Lingelbach) Lee Thomas (Delpha Houston), Alta Thomas Berggren (Carl Berggren), James Thomas (Agatha Krausnick) and Ivan Thomas (Althea Hall); her nephew, Tommy Berggren; and her granddaughter, Stacey Karg.
Marge is survived by: sisters-in-law, Ramona Good, Sue Jo Good and Patti Burk; her children, Glen (Cathy) Good, George (Kathy) Good, Gena (Jim) Karg, Gayla (Paul) Griese, GleeAnn (Tom) Kehr; her 17 grandchildren and their spouses, Shannon (Lance) Talich, Amy (Jay) St. Clair, Alissa (Eric) Krafft, Mandee Good and Jessica Stucky, Andrea Orin, Jennifer (Mark) Rodine, Julie (T.J.) Gorum, JacQue (James) Grinde, Jake Karg, Michael Rogers, Bob (Chelce) Griese, Brenda Griese and John Harris, Tony Griese, Jackie (Anthony) Ferrazzi, Jessica Kehr and Carmen Barnes, Jordan Kehr and Jason Kehr; 19 great-grandchildren and one on the way. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorials may be made to Christ United Methodist Church of Sterling, Colorado, or to the Wesley Foundation in care of Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, PO Box 1046, Sterling, CO 80751.