Marge Helen Lofgran

Marge Helen Lofgran was born April 3, 1927, in Eureka, Utah to James Stanley Gilson and Helen Verda York Gilson. She grew up in Santaquin, Utah with her parents and her five siblings through the Great Depression and World War II.

Marge loved Santaquin and met both of the great loves of her life while living there as a young woman, but she also dreamed of bigger things and had a strong desire to see the world. Marge first left Santaquin after high school to attend stenographer school in Pocatello, Idaho. Thereafter, she worked at Yellowstone and at Payson Hospital before settling in Salt Lake City where she waited tables at a diner.

One day a young man from Panguitch, with whom Marge had danced at a New Year's Eve dance in Santaquin, dropped in at that diner to see her. Marge would go on to marry this young man, O. Ken Worthen, in 1947.

Marge and Ken both got jobs at Hill Field and lived just off base in Sahara Village for several years as they tried to start a family. Marge and Ken moved to a small white house on Liberty St. in Layton, Utah where, after trying for six years, they were blessed with their first child, Diane, in June 1953.

After Marge gave birth, her father, James Stanley Gilson, recommended that she return to work because she seemed happier and more fulfilled when she was working. So Marge returned to work, eventually working for the U.S. Treasury Department at the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Service Center in Ogden, Utah.

Marge's sharp mind, strong work ethic, and nonsense attitude saw her rapidly promoted at the IRS. She quickly became a manager, achieving the level of GS12 in an era when women were not generally encouraged to work. During her time at the IRS, Marge received several awards and accolades, including the exclusive Secretary's Award from the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, William E. Simon, in appreciation for her contributions to the effective and efficient operation of the Department of the Treasury. Marge was flown out to Washington D.C. to receive her award at the Annual Awards Ceremony in 1976.

As Diane grew, Marge and Ken moved to a bigger home in Sunset, Utah. During these years, Marge and Ken continued trying unsuccessfully to have more children until one day they received a call that two children in their family had lost their parents unexpectedly. Marge and Ken immediately drove up to Idaho to pick up young Gary and Terri Jo and were blessed to adopt them into their family as their own.

In 1964, after trying for more than a decade to have another child, Marge was blessed with another baby boy, Kelly Dean. The family lived in Sunset until Kelly was about 10 years old at which time they moved to Roy, Utah.

Marge enjoyed working and spending time with her family camping and fishing. She also enjoyed spending time together with her family and her siblings’ families--particularly with her little sister VeOra and her husband Shirel who lived nearby. Marge was talented at sewing. She would make beautiful wedding dresses, square dance dresses, prom dresses, and doll clothing for her daughters, nieces, and eventually her grandchildren.

A few days prior to Thanksgiving in 1980, as Marge and Ken were preparing to build a new home in Layton, Utah, Marge unexpectedly lost Ken to a heart attack. She was inconsolable for a long time but eventually got her bearings again and began exploring new hobbies and talents.

Marge square danced competitively, performing all over the country, including at the Rose Bowl. She took up oil painting, creating beautiful works of art after receiving only minimal instruction. She self-taught herself how to play the organ and would often play late into the night. She traveled around the world, she did daily crossword puzzles, she dated, she danced, she read, she painted, she cooked, she made Christmas peanut brittle plates for family and friends, and she spent time with her kids and grandkids--never missing the opportunity to take each one of them on a special birthday lunch one-on-one to their favorite restaurants. She was the glue that held the family together, hosting Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving parties with her trademark dirty rice, and sacrificing much of her time and money to try and help her progeny make their way in the world and to receive essential job training and education.

But even while helping others, Marge also made sure to prioritize herself and her own well-being. She derived a lot of satisfaction from having things neat and presentable, always keeping her yard and home tidy and well-kept and never missing a Thursday hair appointment with Judy.

In 1996, Marge heard through the grapevine that a man for whom she had feelings in her youth, Curtis Alma Lofgran, was recently widowed. She wrote him a letter to offer her condolences. Curtis reached out to say thank you after receiving Marge's letter and, in the process of communicating again, Marge and Curtis were able to rekindle their relationship approximately 50 years later, ultimately marrying on April 26, 1997.

Marge absolutely loved Curtis. They started a new chapter together; traveling, remodeling their home, watching (and complaining about) Jazz and BYU games, integrating into each other's families, and just generally enjoying each other's company. They spent 15 love-filled years together before Curtis passed away in August 2012.

In the intervening years, Marge, still fiercely independent, endeavored to maintain control of every aspect of her life. She looked after her own household and tried to check in on her kids, grandkids, and her beloved sister VeOra after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Almost to the very end she continued to keep her Thursday hair appointment.

She jokingly begged her family to smother her with a pillow if things ever got too bad because she dreaded a loss of freedom and independence above all else. Thankfully for everyone, and in traditional Marge fashion, when she decided to go, she didn't waste too much time about it.

On June 19, 2025, and after 98 years of living life on her own , Marge moved on from this life peacefully in her sleep with her daughter Diane by her side.

Marge is survived by two of her children, Diane (Bill), Lange and Kelly Dean Worthen, eight grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three siblings, both of her beloved husbands, O. Ken Worthen and Curtis Alma Lofgran, and two of her children, Terri Jo Brown and Gary Ken Worthen.

Marge's family would like to express their appreciation for Canyon Hospice, especially Marge's nurse Jamie who was so kind and tender with Marge and her family during her final weeks on Earth.

Funeral services will be held Friday June 27, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’ s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Family and friends may visit Thursday June 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary prior to the service.

Interment will be held at Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. Ogden, Utah.