Margaret Sue Mitschelen

MARGARET SUE (CODDINGTON) MITSCHELEN Margaret Sue Coddington passed away on June 28, 2024, after a short illness. Margaret was born November 13, 1941, in Brighton, Livingston County, Michigan, to Albert and Olive (Appling) Coddington. She was raised on the family farm in Howell, Michigan, with her three brothers Robert, Harold, and Russell. She graduated high school from Howell High School then went on to Michigan State University graduating with a degree in Social Services. While at Michigan State University, Margaret met the love of her life, Gero Eldon Mitschelen. Her relationship with Gero endured a three month long distance romance by mail. Margaret and Gero were married on March 18, 1962, in Howell, Michigan. They made their first home in Ellisforde,Washington, and then moved to Reedsport, Oregon. They returned to Tonasket in February, 1963, where their son, Joe, was born on March 14, 1963. In August, 1965, they moved back to Howell, Michigan, so Margaret could return to college. In April, 1968, Margaret and the family moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon, and finally arrived in Okanogan, Washington, in January, 1969. She worked for the Department of Social Health Services for many years as a social worker touching the lives of many children and their families. Margaret and Gero purchased property near Malott, Washington, where they planted an orchard and built their forever home by hand. Margaret and Gero enjoyed traveling together and did almost yearly treks to Michigan where her family lived and Indiana to see Gero’s. Genealogy was important to Margaret so they spent time in Salt Lake City at the archives and many other locations researching family history. They eventually traveled to all 50 states, all by auto, except for Hawaii and Alaska. Margaret was an active member of the Okanogan County Genealogical Society, where she served as treasurer. She was also a member of the Okanogan County Historical Society, where she served as a trustee. Margaret and Gero were named “Pioneer of the Year” in 2008. Margaret is survived by her daughter, Teri (Joe); grandsons, Brady and Dakota; and great-grandson, Noah, all of Washington; sisters-in-law, Helen Coddington (Harold) of Tennessee and Doris Coddington (Russell) of Michigan; as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Olive Coddington; her brothers Robert, Harold, and Russell Coddington; her beloved husband, Gero Eldon Mitschelen, and her son Joe Karl Mitschelen. Services are planned for July 5 and 6, 2024, at the River Valley Funeral Home. A viewing will be held on Friday, July 5, at 5:00 – 7:00 pm and the funeral Saturday, July 6, at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Okanogan County Historical Society or the Okanogan County Genealogical Society. "Thoughts of Margaret Sue" -By Teri Margaret Sue Mitschelen – granddaughter, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend. She was many things to many people but notice, I did not say mother-in-law. I came on the scene in 1986 marrying her only son Joe that December. It wasn’t long before I started calling her mom and realized that was what she was to me. I didn’t have in-laws; I had another set of parents and that’s how they treated me. And the family in Michigan, Indiana, Tennessee, New York, and Vermont treated me as part of the family and they became an extended family to me. Mom was a big part of all of that. I live in the basement of her house and have since marriage – 37 ½ years. The four of us – mom, dad, Joe, and I – traveled together, went to collector shows together, worked the farm and picked apples together. I remember one show in Portland, Oregon. We camped at the fairgrounds so not many food choices. Mom loved my crockpot lasagna so we cooked it under the table in their booth. We got a lot of looks as the smell was amazing. We enjoyed every bite! I also remember the trips across country as a family. On one of their trips they found windmills in South Dakota and bought two. Mom, Dad, Joe and I went out to get them in a old truck and large flatbed trailer. They are still in our front yard although a little beat up. We got along so well! Holidays were special in mom and dad’s house. I learned early the friendships that mom and dad had made through work. They opened their home at Thanksgiving to a group who had no family to celebrate with and these people became mom and dad’s family here and eventually mine. Dick and Karen, Larry and Jeannette, their boys Adam and Paul, Dick and Peggy. Life long friends mom clung to. Christmas too was wonderful. We continued our tradition of presents early morning and dinner in the afternoon always at 1:00. Looking through photos I found many of Mom at Christmas time. In these last nine years with it being just Mom and me we went back east three times in the RV visiting Howell, Michigan; Hudson Falls, New York; Pawlett, Vermont; and Dandridge, Tennessee. We flew back twice – once to Dandridge and once to Howell. We were close but those airplane seats were a little too close. During the winter we spent Sundays watching football. And almost every single night we had dinner, watched the news, then Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. People that knew mom knew of her cat Mitten whom she loved even though it didn’t always love her back. One of my favorite pictures of her is holding that cat. People didn’t understand her attachment but she would have been so much more lonely had it not been for Mitten. Mom didn’t always seem to express her love easily but I believe she had a deep love for her family. She was able to enjoy hours with her grandchildren, Brady and Dakota. She became their “teacher” in the afternoons as she would catch them off the school bus. She would make sure that they always had things to do. Mom was also able to spend time with her grandson Noah. She posted his picture proudly on her entertainment center. The house is bigger now without her, and I still haven’t figured out how to fill 5:30 to 8:00 at night. I have many memories mostly good, some not so. I leaned on her in many moments of hurt and sought her advice. I am grateful for the time I was able to be with her, caring for her, returning some of the kindness and love she showed me over the years. I promised mom I would not leave her and I am thankful that I was there in the last moments, looking her in the eye and telling her how much I loved her.

Margaret Sue Mitschelen

November 13, 1941 - June 28, 2024