Margaret Joanne Boggess, 72, of Troy, died Wednesday, May 14, at Boundary Community Hospital. Meg died peacefully in her sleep, holding the hand of her daughter, Brooke.She was born in Tacoma, Washington, and lived there with her father, Ellis Schank; mother, Jean Schank; and brother, Mark Schank.
In 1967 Meg’s parents decided to buy a bar in Montana, the State Line House, and moved the family from the bustling city life to the quiet rural outskirts of Troy. Meg was not in agreement with this decision, and at 15 she hitchhiked, by herself, all the way back to Tacoma.
Her father had to chase her down at a friend’s house to bring her back home. After starting school at Troy High School, Meg quickly came to love Troy and small-town life, and her high spirits and friendly demeanor quickly endeared her to her classmates.
She was popular throughout high school, loved to go to dances, and one year was crowned homecoming queen. After graduation she went to hairstyling school in Tacoma and became an artist with scissors.
While she was there, she met Edward Boggess, and after a short courtship she moved in with him and they were married at the county courthouse. She failed to mention her upcoming nuptials to her parents; but they were tipped off by friends, and they showed up as surprise guests at the ceremony.
Family legend is that Ellis showed up with a shotgun. The family soon came to terms, and Ed and Meg bought property from her parents and built a little cabin that had started out as a tractor shed. Meg worked beautifying the Troy community as a hairstylist at A Beauty Stoppe. She worked sometimes six days a week, then still had the energy and gumption to keep house in her little cabin that had no electricity or running water, plus keep a vegetable garden.
In 1980 Meg had a daughter, Brooke. She once again stuck to her guns about what she wanted, and instead of going to a hospital, she had her baby in her own bed in her own home, with the help of a local midwife. In 1993, after the death of her father, Meg and Ed bought and ran the State Line House.
Meg was a natural bar owner, she was incredibly personable and social, and had a ball at her new job, though she still did hair on the side. She ran the bar for seventeen years, and hosted many dances, weddings, and memorials, making it a true community center.
She sold the State Line to her daughter in 2010 and retired in Moyie Springs for the rest of her days. But she never lost her spirit and sense of adventure, and spent her days with her many friends, camping, picking berries and mushrooms, gathering good sticks and rocks, and enjoying her beloved mountains.
Meg was a determined, strong woman, who knew what she wanted; but she was also very compassionate, and always ready with a helping hand. She was an asset to her community, and she will be sorely missed by many. She leaves behind her daughter, Brooke; her son in law, Michael; her grandson, Richard; and her granddaughter, Salix.
She also leaves behind Summer, whom she loved and cherished as though she were her own daughter, her best friend Cindy; and her many, many friends, who are too numerous to name.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, May 30, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Troy VFW tavern. Please bring food for the potluck, if you can; bring good memories, and let us celebrate Meg’s life with joy, as she would want.