Obituary for Marjorie Claire Minner
Marjorie Claire Minner
May 11, 1930 – September 4, 2022
Marjorie (Marge) Claire Minner, age 92, died peacefully on Sunday, September 4, 2022, at the Rosewood Health Center in Bakersfield, California. She had a loving send-off, with numerous family members and friends visiting her in the weeks and moments preceding her death.
Marge was born in the town of Ross, California in Marin County on May 11, 1930, the second child of Philip Clark Olmstead and Leora Margaret Olmstead. She had one older brother, James Leon Olmstead, whom she always referred to as her "hero." Her family moved frequently during her childhood, totaling 11 moves by the time she was 13 years old. In 1943 her family settled in San Anselmo, California, where she graduated from Tamalpais High School in 1947. After a few years of attending junior college and a period of time spent working for Pacific Telephone, she began attending the University of California, Berkeley in 1951. While in Berkeley, she met her first boyfriend and future husband, Warren Andrew Minner. She left college to marry Warren on March 21, 1953. She and Warren eventually settled in Bakersfield, California, where he started his engineering business. It was in Bakersfield that they raised their five children and spent the remainder of their lives.
A lifelong learner with a passion for education, Marge returned to college after raising her large family. She proudly graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 1985 with a BS degree in geology. She was a steady and tireless volunteer for many organizations over her lifetime, including the Global Gifts store in downtown Bakersfield from 1988 to 2003, and the Bakersfield Homeless Center from 2003 to 2015. She served as co-manager of Global Gifts, where she cultivated many close friends with whom she continued to gather until just prior to her passing. In 2019 Marge and Warren moved to the Rosewood Senior Living Community in Bakersfield. She continued volunteering at Rosewood by serving on their "Welcome Committee" and "Resident Council." She and Warren celebrated 67 wonderful years of marriage until the time of his passing on July 18, 2020.
In addition to being a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, and friend, Marge was an avid camper and hiker, a world traveler, an activist, a proud Democrat, a lover of politics, an exceptional gardener, a master knitter and seamstress, an animal and plant lover, and an advocate for all. She loved to learn and grow, embracing change and the ideas of new generations throughout her life. She was also a wonderful listener, always curious to hear about other peoples' lives, no matter who they were or where she met them. Accepting of people from all walks of life, she loved to say "we all share the same color of blood."
Marge is survived by: her sons, William Minner (Sandra) and Andrew Minner; daughters, Laura Turner and Joyce Boulanger (Ross); grandchildren, Krista Stellmacher, Wesley Minner, Mara Minner Cordon (Edwin), Roland Turner, Raymond Turner, Kelsey Ridley (David), and Lauren Boulanger; great-grandchildren, Charlotte Ridley, Maeve Ridley, and Milan Hunter; and many nieces and nephews. She loved her large and growing family above all else. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother, oldest daughter Pamela Stellmacher, and son-in-law Jim Turner.
The family wishes to thank the Rosewood Senior Living Community staff for the loving and dedicated care they provided to Marge and Warren during their last few years of life, and also to Hoffmann Hospice for their care during their last few weeks of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Bakersfield Homeless Center / The Open Door Network (bakhc.org or opendoorhelps.org), the Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org), or to another charity of your choice. The date of Marge's memorial service has not yet been determined but will be held in the next few months.
Rest in peace, dear Marge.
May 11, 1930 – September 4, 2022
Marjorie (Marge) Claire Minner, age 92, died peacefully on Sunday, September 4, 2022, at the Rosewood Health Center in Bakersfield, California. She had a loving send-off, with numerous family members and friends visiting her in the weeks and moments preceding her death.
Marge was born in the town of Ross, California in Marin County on May 11, 1930, the second child of Philip Clark Olmstead and Leora Margaret Olmstead. She had one older brother, James Leon Olmstead, whom she always referred to as her "hero." Her family moved frequently during her childhood, totaling 11 moves by the time she was 13 years old. In 1943 her family settled in San Anselmo, California, where she graduated from Tamalpais High School in 1947. After a few years of attending junior college and a period of time spent working for Pacific Telephone, she began attending the University of California, Berkeley in 1951. While in Berkeley, she met her first boyfriend and future husband, Warren Andrew Minner. She left college to marry Warren on March 21, 1953. She and Warren eventually settled in Bakersfield, California, where he started his engineering business. It was in Bakersfield that they raised their five children and spent the remainder of their lives.
A lifelong learner with a passion for education, Marge returned to college after raising her large family. She proudly graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 1985 with a BS degree in geology. She was a steady and tireless volunteer for many organizations over her lifetime, including the Global Gifts store in downtown Bakersfield from 1988 to 2003, and the Bakersfield Homeless Center from 2003 to 2015. She served as co-manager of Global Gifts, where she cultivated many close friends with whom she continued to gather until just prior to her passing. In 2019 Marge and Warren moved to the Rosewood Senior Living Community in Bakersfield. She continued volunteering at Rosewood by serving on their "Welcome Committee" and "Resident Council." She and Warren celebrated 67 wonderful years of marriage until the time of his passing on July 18, 2020.
In addition to being a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, and friend, Marge was an avid camper and hiker, a world traveler, an activist, a proud Democrat, a lover of politics, an exceptional gardener, a master knitter and seamstress, an animal and plant lover, and an advocate for all. She loved to learn and grow, embracing change and the ideas of new generations throughout her life. She was also a wonderful listener, always curious to hear about other peoples' lives, no matter who they were or where she met them. Accepting of people from all walks of life, she loved to say "we all share the same color of blood."
Marge is survived by: her sons, William Minner (Sandra) and Andrew Minner; daughters, Laura Turner and Joyce Boulanger (Ross); grandchildren, Krista Stellmacher, Wesley Minner, Mara Minner Cordon (Edwin), Roland Turner, Raymond Turner, Kelsey Ridley (David), and Lauren Boulanger; great-grandchildren, Charlotte Ridley, Maeve Ridley, and Milan Hunter; and many nieces and nephews. She loved her large and growing family above all else. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother, oldest daughter Pamela Stellmacher, and son-in-law Jim Turner.
The family wishes to thank the Rosewood Senior Living Community staff for the loving and dedicated care they provided to Marge and Warren during their last few years of life, and also to Hoffmann Hospice for their care during their last few weeks of life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Bakersfield Homeless Center / The Open Door Network (bakhc.org or opendoorhelps.org), the Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org), or to another charity of your choice. The date of Marge's memorial service has not yet been determined but will be held in the next few months.
Rest in peace, dear Marge.