Margaret Kreis passed away on March 12, 2022 with her family by her side. The last month of her life was a loving parade of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren who came to tell her stories, share a laugh, and give their love in the same home she fed them and loved them. For 70 years, this queen graced the Nine Mile with her beauty, grace, and wit. Her beautiful smile is making Bob Kreis the happiest man in Heaven. On December 30, 1924, Emma Margaret Kreis was born in Alexander, North Dakota to Pearl and Leighton Trotter, one of seven brothers and sisters raised on the Little Missouri River. Margaret was a rodeo queen and a true western woman who could ride any unruly or ill-named horse (thanks to her brothers). She and her sister Doris made mischief and nearly burned down their house, but their laughter could be heard across the North Dakota and Montana plains. After living with her Aunt Beulah and graduating from Watford City High School, she attended a year at the University of Montana. She returned home for the summer and not long after married Bobby Kreis, a man she could match wits with and who would love her for the rest of his life. He gave her "Old Paint" as a wedding gift. That old horse kept an eye on her children, even taking "city slicker" boyfriends for a runaway ride. They lived at Elm Coulee, MT in a simple dugout cabin, having their first two daughters there. Eventually, they moved to Ninemile where she raised seven beautiful and equally witty children, teaching them strength, bravery, and to shoot at the birds who raided the garden. She taught them to fight ornery with ornery - when Bob thought it would be funny to make a mark above the bedpost each time she forgot to make the bed, she taught him by painting over the marks. Margaret loved her milk cows and we cherish the memory of her milking them in her house dress. Each day her children were greeted with a chocolate cake with fudge frosting right after school. They would work their tails off to help with chores and eat the rest of the cake after dinner. Margaret was a mom who never yelled, but could hide a brother from an irate sister and shoot magpies from the attic window. She taught us how to backfloat Ninemile Creek, sculpt cowboy boots, pinch petunias, and grow beautiful gardens. She was the only woman who could wear red to a wedding. She spent her days telling the best jokes, perfecting potato salad, filling her bird feeders, and making only good memories. Her grandchildren were greeted with bowls of raspberries and cream, apple pie, and homemade bread rolls. The pipe setters and rock pickers were awarded with eggs over easy - perfect every time, and bottomless glasses of red-topped milk. She always made sure she had a big Sunday dinner prepared, welcoming anyone who decided to stop by. Margaret was a woman who knew how to have a good time. Each week on "Cadillac Wednesday," she would dress in her best and head to lunch at the Ninemile House. Many memories were shared of dancing to the jukebox, eating shrimp cocktails, and watching her gather her winnings from Doug on the Keno machines. She knew the batting average for most Atlanta Braves and could whip out a crossword puzzle or solve the Wheel of Fortune faster than Pat Sajak could wink at Vanna White. Likely the most competitive woman who ever lived, she was not afraid to take liberties at cribbage even in a game against her great grandchildren. She loved babies. Even after 18 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren, she was still just as excited to meet each new member of the family. Margaret was one of the most beautiful women who ever lived and each of her granddaughters smelled her perfume and prayed that one day they would be as beautiful, brave, smart, and strong as their Granny Kreis. She was a gift to everyone she met and we will not stop missing her or loving her or laughing at her one-liners. Margaret is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Kreis, her brothers and sister, Doris Murray, and her husband Sid, her good friends Bud and Norma Mitten, Susie Murray, and her dear daughter-in-law, Louise. She is survived by her sister Pearl Willis of Arizona, seven children: Ginny (Jim) Larson, Suzie (Rod) Kendall, Mike (Gail), Patti (Dennis) Scheffer, Richard (Laurie), Gary, and Dave (Barb), many nieces and nephews, including Sydney Lopp and Jim Murray (who she loved living close to), and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. A memorial will be held at a later date. A special thanks to "Zeke" and all of the wonderful people from Partners in Home Care, and last but not least the wonderful caregivers who loved and helped take care of Mom the last few years.

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