Background on Margaret



Margaret 13 Months



July 12, 1916 Margaret Stretz was born into the world. Margaret was born in Louisville, Colorado and moved to Olympia in 1930 where she completed high school at Olympia High School.  She recalls memories from her early life as,

"It was a warm and loving time." (Cholski, Margaret K.) 

Her mother was named Mattie Van Valkenburg-Stretz and her pop was Robert J. Stretz. She remembered the house always being filled with music and  something sweet to eat.  

Louisville, Colorado back then was a mining town. Most of the settlers in there were from a German or Itallian heratage. Bob (Robert) was a blacksmith and he owned a blacksmith shop in town where he would iron wheels and horse shoes for the folks in their town. Her mother didn't approve of her always wanted to help in the shop ,but Margaret thought it was more fun then just staying inside all the time.

Margaret had 3 sibilings. Older Sister Frances, older brother Eddie, and younger brother Albert, 

"When it was the turn of my brother, Eddie, to watch me, he would take me out in the yard by a tree and say, 'Let's play horse.' He would tie me to the tree and then take off to play with his friends." (Cholski, Margaret K.)

When Margaret was three the moved to North Park, Colorado. The rented out a house in Coalmont because of a log cabin that was there from Uncle Ed. The log cabin was insulated with sod so it would keep them warm or cool throughout the seasons. They also moved to Sidney a few miles out of Steam Boat Springs, Colorado about when Margaret was in the 5th grade. Soon the moved to south of Steam Boat Springs to a place called Oak Creek.  According to Grandma (Margaret) Oak Creek was a pleasant place to live. They always had picnics and fun splashing and playing in the pools. Life soon passed and the family moved to Superior, Wyoming when Margaret was in the 7th to 8th grade. Finally the family moved to Olympia, Washington. Frances and Eddie by this time had already started their own lives out in Olympia.

Wedding Day

Graduating from High School in 1934 she had known her soon to be husband Bill Cholski all throughout high school.



"One day he came for a visit, and I fixed him a lunch. Of course, he did not like it or eat it, He was a finicky eater. We did not really date, just took long car rides together. One day he gave me a diamond engagement ring." (Cholski, Margaret K.)

Bill and Margaret were married on March 14, 1937. Since then they've had 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild (me).

Margaret was a homemaker while Papa Bill worked at the Olympia post office for 30 years before retiring in 1970.

Time moves on and days and memories grow. Papa Grape (Bill) passed away on November 14, 2001. Margaret passed away November 10, 2005.