Margaret “Peg” Wagner

Margaret “Peg” Ann Wagner, 67

Margaret “Peg” Wagner, age 67 of Hungry Horse, passed away Sept. 29th, 2024, with her family by her side. She was born Nov. 29th, 1956 in Ronan to Harold and Patricia Stipe.

Peg and her family moved to Hungry Horse in the early 1960s.  She attended Elementary School in Hungry Horse which is where she met the love of her life, Doug. They were married July 10th, 1977 and soon after started their family.  

Peg spent her life as a homemaker raising her children and taking care of her home and yard while her husband was at work. She enjoyed manicuring her beautiful yard, splitting wood, and baking her famous cherry chocolate chip cookies. One of her biggest passions in life was hunting. 

 She harvested many impressive deer, elk and moose trophies in her lifetime. She enjoyed spending time with her family which often involved sitting around a campfire. 

She cherished the time she spent with her grandkids whether caring for them during the day or taking them on camping adventures. She was also passionate about her pets, which included horses, dogs, cats, birds, fish and even her squirrels. Peg was a compassionate and empathetic soul, always offering help to others in need.

She contributed to many important causes throughout her lifetime. She led a team of volunteers to maintain Forest Service campgrounds after they experienced budget cuts to help keep them open for the public to enjoy. She was one of the founding members of Montanans for Multiple Use, a group that fought to keep access to public lands for all users. She traveled to Washington D.C. to testify before Congress on a proposed wilderness bill. 

Peg was the State Coordinator for Montana Resource Providers Coalition which included organizing and speaking at public meetings and rallies in several states. 

Her involvement in this movement led her and a small group of volunteers to paint “This Family Supported by Timber Dollars” signs in her dad’s garage in Hungry Horse. When asked how many she would paint, her response was “Ten thousand signs, or until opening day of hunting season whichever comes first.”

She ended up painting all ten thousand and continued the movement by getting others involved nationwide with starter kits. She was very involved in her community and has helped with litter clean-ups for the last 25  years. Peg was well known for cruising the town on her golf cart with her dog picking up litter daily until her passing. 

Peg is preceded in death by her parents: Harold and Patricia Stipe; her brother Jim Stipe, her sister Mary Wall and her nephew Ed Stipe. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Doug and their children: Jonathan Wagner and Jennilee Burke (Josh), foster daughter: Laura Price; grandchildren: Parker and Sydnee Burke; nieces: Lori Guastad (Wall), Doreen Seymore (Wall), Trish Boggess (Stipe), Christy Stipe and numerous great nieces and nephews. 

Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.  To send online condolences please visit columbiamortuary.com