TORRINGTON – A memorial service for Marjorie “Marge” Wells Newman, 101, will be held at a later date. Marge, beloved community, passed away September 27, 2024, at Goshen Healthcare Community.
A private family graveside was held in the Valley View Cemetery. Memorials in Marge’s name may be made to the Torrington Senior Friendship Center or the Methodist Church. Colyer Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Marge was born July 6, 1923, in Deaver, Wyoming, to Floyd and Bernice Wells. She grew up there and went to the University of Wyoming during the World War II years, when she roomed with the Newman sisters from Prairie Center, who introduced her to their brother, Keith Newman.
Marjorie graduated with a degree in home economics and worked as a dietician for the VA, then married Keith in 1947 after he returned from the war in the Pacific. Keith took over his parent’s ranch, where they raised their family of three daughters and three sons.
As the children grew up, Marge was both bus driver and school lunch dietician for the two-room school at Prairie Center. Marge, as well as Keith, were community 4-H leaders, and active in Farm Bureau, Extension Club, and CowBelles (now Cattle Women).
In 1959, they moved to a farm near Torrington for high school, rather than boarding in town as many of the ranch families did at that time. In addition to the decades of service to ranch organizations, in Torrington, Marge joined and became active in the Torrington Methodist Church, a family tradition with her mother-in-law, Gertrude Newman.
Living five miles out of town meant driving the family Suburban many miles and providing adult leadership for kid’s activities - 4-H club, athletics, high school activities, Jobs Daughters, and rodeo.
Marge was always a strong contributor to the community. She was an election judge for decades. She donated blood until she aged out her late 80s. She supported the Historical Center for decades.
After Keith died in 1995, Marjorie moved to “town” - Torrington - to live in a house built by her son, Neil. She became a regular attendee at the Torrington Senior Center.
Marge is survived by her daughters, Jean (Charles) Bedord, Alice, (Kem deceased) Sibbitt, Nancy (Ryan) Reiber and sons Blair (Sandy) and Ross (Julie). Son Neil (Deidre) died in 2018. Grandchildren included Jared and Clay Sibbitt, Paul Newman, Brian Bedord, Demoni Newman, Lindsay, Lauren and Madison Reiber, as well as eight great-grandchildren.
