Margaret "Peggy" Proulx

Margaret “Peggy” Jane Proulx, 92, of rural Crookston, MN, passed away at her home Saturday evening, August 20, 2022, surrounded in love by many of her family.

Peggy was born at St. Michael’s Hospital in Grand Forks on August 13, 1930, to Emmet and Mary (Quirk) Kane.  She grew up in East Grand Forks, MN, the oldest of six children.  Peggy attended Sacred Heart Schools through graduation with the Class of 1948 and then worked as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell. She would later marry the love of her life, Earl J. Proulx, on November 28, 1950, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks. Their union was blessed by the births of eight children between 1951-1960.

Peggy and Earl lived in East Grand Forks until 1964 when they physically moved their home to rural Crookston where she and Earl began farming.  Peggy was a wonderful, devoted wife and mother.  She was loving, caring, strong, feisty, and a very independent woman of many talents.  Peggy was a city girl who adapted quite well to farm life.  She had a huge garden, sewed clothes, raised chickens, and sold eggs for spending money. Peggy also raised pigs and one cow while learning to milk and churn butter.

Peggy was a devout Catholic and faithful member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. She taught Sunday school and helped serve at funerals for several years with the St. Anthony Circle.  She also was active in Homemakers Club with her many friends. Peggy loved working in her flower beds and for many years landscaped her home and lake home with over 300 flowers from her greenhouse.  She had an exceptional green thumb and took great pride in growing the most beautiful African Violets.

Peggy loved to decorate for holidays and many passersby slowed in front of their home at Christmas to admire the Nativity scene and Santa’s sleigh with eight reindeer on the front lawn.

Peggy came from strong Irish heritage and she, along with Earl and family, religiously celebrated Saint Patricks Day at the Irishman’s Shanty into their 90’s.  She thoroughly enjoyed a memorable trip she and Earl took to Ireland after their retirement, where she even got to kiss the Blarney Stone.  Peggy and Earl also took trips to New York, Graceland, the Rockies, Alaska, Las Vegas, and Hawaii.

Peggy pursued her artistic talents as her children grew.  She created many ceramic artworks given with great love to her family as holiday and birthday gifts.  She was also a gifted painter of beautiful landscapes and other scenes which are on display in her home and lake cabin to this day.

Peggy will long be remembered as a beautiful, dedicated, loving and hardworking person who always put her family first.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren at the lake, where they played the card game, Nuts, and did special projects including making ornaments and bedazzling sweatshirts.  She loved holiday gatherings and could make cooking Christmas dinner for 50 people look easy!

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Emmet and Mary Kane; 2 brothers, Jackie and Mike; 3 sisters: Rosemary Tozer, Veronica Aubol, and Colleen Davis; a grandson, Scott Proulx; and other family members.

Peggy is survived by Earl, her loving husband of 71 years; their 8 children: Karen (Dwight) Hanson of Mentor MN, Kathy (Paul) Proulx-Hendrickson of Anchorage AK, Terry (Jim) Clauson of Crookston MN, Bob (Jenny)Proulx and John (Jan) Proulx, Red Lake Falls MN, Ron (Arlis) Proulx of East Grand Forks MN, and Elaine (Randy) Fetsch and Arlene (Steve) Johnson of Grand Forks ND; 34 grandchildren; 45 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and her sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Anderson of Fort Morgan CO. The love and lessons Peggy gave us will remain in our hearts forever.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers who took such wonderful care of Peggy including  Hospice of the Red River Valley.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret “Peggy” Proulx will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston with Msgr. David Baumgartner, presiding. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral. The Mass will be livestreamed by going to www.crookstoncathedral.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Following a luncheon burial will take place at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Gentilly.

Online messages of condolence may be given to Earl and family at the funeral home website www.stenshoelhouske.com.