Marjory Hamersly Obituary

Marjory Ann Hamersly of Albert Lea died July 17, 2025.

She was born September 5, 1931, in Monticello, Iowa, the youngest child of Charles Morris Luett and Ruth Norine Luett (née McNeilly). Marge enjoyed a close-knit family life with her parents, her sister, Mary Lou, and her brother, Robert. She lived in Monticello, and on a nearby farm, until she graduated from high school. Like her mother before her, she attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, where Marge graduated magna cum laude.

She met Winston C. Hamersly, a graduate of Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and they married on March 8, 1952. Marge and Winston lived on their farm near Glenville until his death in 2014. Marge loved the farm and being close to nature, so she remained there until 2019, when she moved to the Village Cooperative in Albert Lea, where she lived her final years.

Marge’s life roles evolved over the decades. She taught elementary school until she became a mother, raising a son and a daughter. She embraced being a farm wife and mastered canning, sewing, caring for livestock and managing the farm. When her children started school, Marge began substitute teaching in the Glenville and Albert Lea schools. She later resumed her academic studies and graduated from Mankato State University with highest honors.

Early on, Marge volunteered to enrich her life as well as the lives of many others. She was active in her church as well as the March of Dimes. By the 1960s, she was elected to the Glenville School Board.

For three decades, she was active in the Republican Party. Marge progressed from local to state to national roles, rising from District Chairwoman to Minnesota Vice-Chairwoman. She was a campaign manager for successful candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. She was selected as a Minnesota delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention, where she was the only female Rules Committee member.

By the 1980s, Marge had become Executive Director of the Freeborn County United Way where she worked for nearly two decades. Beginning in 2000, she served three years as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. She also was a board member for the Albert Lea Medical Center and the United Methodist Church.

Marge’s legacy is one of leadership – she was both a role model and an advocate for women taking the lead. She was recognized for her intelligence, respect for other people, and steady advocacy for bringing much needed services and opportunities to her community.

Marge was preceded in death by her parents, brother, sister, husband, and son, James B. Hamersly. She is survived by her daughter, Carla Hamersly (Leland) Johnson, as well as her son’s widow, Peggy Anderson Hamersly, whom she loved as her daughter.

Marge will be missed by so many family members, including her nephew, Jack (Kathy) Leone and her niece, Ann (Gary) Patterson; her grandchildren, James W. Hamersly (Roxy Larson), Emily Boren (Craig Schmidt), Amber (Brian) Padley, Melissa (Jacob) Meyer, and Corwin Johnson; as well as her great-grandchildren, Aydan and Ethan Boren, Paul Biggins; plus her extended family members including Dave (Cathi) Luett, and several step-grandchildren.

Marge was grateful for deep friendships with people in our community. For example, the devotion of the entire Thompson family, throughout their lives, and especially at end, was so much appreciated. Thank you, Earl, Beverly, Karen, Jolyn and Eric. She considered you part of the “family she chose”.

The family also thanks St. John Community Retirement Home, and St. Croix Hospice, for their compassionate care of Marge.

Blessed be her memory.

A celebration of Marge’s life will be held at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea on August 1 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm.

Memorials are suggested to the Freeborn County United Way, the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea, or the charity of your choice.

The Celebration of Life service will be live-streamed, and can be watched below, or from the following link: https://youtube.com/live/qR-RYxfDS74?feature=share