Jan. 12, 1930 - May 7, 2009

Margaret Wheeler passed away in her home in Corvallis on May 7 at the age of 79.

Margaret was born in Los Angeles at the Queen of the Angels hospital on Jan. 12, 1930, the second of the six children of Fred and Elizabeth Sieck. She grew up in Alhambra, a suburban city near Los Angeles, excelling in mathematics and art, and actively participating in the Girl Scouts. At the age of 17, Margaret's art skills were recognized when she placed first in the state of California in the annual Easter Seals design contest, winning admission to a California art school. Her design went on to be recognized with a second-place award in the national contest.

Margaret attended the University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in mathematics, and participating in her beloved sorority, Sigma Kappa. She married the love of her life, Leslie Wheeler, on Aug. 14, 1949. Margaret and Leslie had three children.

In 1969, Margaret and her family moved to Corvallis and began farming on Kiger Island. She served on the Benton County Election Board, the Benton County Farm Bureau, and the Benton County Foundation. She was a member of Altrusa and the Corvallis Historical Auto Club. She continued to be active with her art, painting many pictures that hang in her home today. Margaret always loved playing cards, and was active with an informal organization known as the Farm Wives Bridge Club, and with her family she was a cutthroat pinochle player.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Leslie; her two sons, David, a college professor in Moorhead, Minn., and Paul, the owner of Wheeler Supply in Gilroy, Calif.; and her daughter, Tina, a veterinarian in Burien, Wash. She has two surviving sisters, Friede Webb and Karen Snider. At her passing, Margaret had seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A private interment will be held for the family only. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Wheeler Family Fund at the Benton County Foundation, which is dedicated to the children's programs of the Benton County Historical Society. Checks can be sent to the DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home at 815 N.W. Buchanan Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330.