Marjorie Dogterom

Marjorie Louise Teslow Dogterom completed her life on November 5 with a full moon shining on a crystalline winter night. Her life was as full as the moon and shone with her attitude that life should be joyous.

Marjorie Teslow was born on August 25, 1920, in Moore Montana. Her parents, who owned and operated the Teslow grain elevators throughout Montana, moved to Bozeman so that Marge would attend college. During college, she met Cory Dogterom who lived in the SAE fraternity house (now the Story mansion) across the street from her family home. They married but spent time apart because of the war. During that time Marge had various teaching jobs around the state. Her favorite was in Lodge Grass on the Crow Reservation where she loved the shy and attentive students. She lived with other teachers in a hotel that did not allow Indians upstairs. Appalled by the policy, Marge, who had long dark hair and a deep summer tan, braided her hair, slipped on moccasins, wrapped herself in a blanket and sauntered downstairs, endearing her even more to her students. She has many wonderful artworks from that time.

When Cory was discharged from the army, he joined Teslow Inc. The couple raised their family in Bozeman and when the kids headed off to college, Marge returned to college herself, receiving an art degree in ceramics which became her passion until she developed a new interest in sculpture, working primarily in soapstone.

Under Cory‘s leadership, Teslow Inc. grew, spreading from Montana into other states. When it was sold to ConAgra, Marge and Cory moved to Minneapolis where they lived for 15 years, returning to Bozeman when Cory retired. Through the decades Marge continued her art, keeping an expanding file of new ideas. She was an avid gardener and had a particular love of dahlias. On summer days when people were invited to her house for her famous root beer floats, they would sit in her garden patio that burst with large boisterous blooms. She also took in the ailing orchids of friends, and within weeks they would be blossoming again.

Marge made every day a delight. In the mornings, she would often remark that it was another day in paradise and then turn it into one with artwork, gardening, bridge games (she was a consummate player) and dinner parties. She loved to travel and once in her mid 90s, she visited San Diego. In need of a car, she didn’t rent any old car but a red convertible. The creative shaping of her life enriched and enhanced the lives of all who knew her.

Marge was preceded in death by Cory and her daughter Diane. She is survived by her dear friend John Sveen, her daughter and son-in-law Daphne and Con Gillam, her son and daughter-in-law Dana and Toni Dogterom, granddaughter Claire Gillam and husband Josh Minalga, granddaughter Alexa Dogterom and husband Nick Caldicott.