Please use this area to share get well, sympathy and good wishes for members of our dancing community. If you are a registered user of the site, you can add comments by using the comment form below the article. If you are not a registered user, you can use the login / register link at the top of the page to register as a site user. Or, if you prefer, you can submit your comments by opening a help / support ticket at http://coloradosquaredance.com/index.php/support-ticket or by sending an email to
It is with a sad heart that we tell you that Sam Margheim passed away this morning, March 17,2018. Linda was driving the 2 of them home late last night and when Sam had not said anything for a while. She tried to wake him with no result. She pulled over and assuming a heart attack, called 911. They responded quickly and attempted resuscitation for an hour while in the ambulance and at the hospital, but to no avail.
He will be cremated, but a service will wait until later this spring or this summer.
Sam & Linda were the General Chairman of the 53rd National Square Dance Convention in Denver in 2004, and have served on the National Executive Committee since then. Sam helped form the USA West Square Dance Convention, and served in many square dance capacities in Denver and Colorado State. Sam & Linda are still head of the 53rd Grant Committee and Linda, Jim & Judy Taylor will see to it that the Grant Fund remains viable for the Colorado Square Dance Community.
Cards may be sent to:
Linda Margheim
1575 Barres Street
Strasburg, CO 80136
Tax deductible contributions may be made to the 53rd NSDC Grant Fund and sent to Linda (Treasurer) at the above address.
Jim and Judy Taylor
Marin William "Bill" Christensen
Bill passed into God's hands on January 27, 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado surrounded by his wife, Beverly; daughter, Lori; son-in-law, Roger; grandson, Michael; and grandson-in-law, Michael Paris.
Bill was born on November 30, 1933 on the family farm in Lindsay, Nebraska to Oscar and Charlotte Christensen. In 1938, the family moved to Geneseo, Illinois. Bill graduated from Geneseo High School in 1951. During his school years, he was employed on several jobs, including construction and sandblasting projects.
Bill had an adventurous spirit and lived life on his terms. He was a brakeman in the railroad yards in East Moline, Illinois at the age of 18 and later joined the Army. For two years, he was a trainer of pacers and trotters working at Chicago area race tracks, primarily at Sportsman's Park. In subsequent years, he was a postman in Geneseo, where he met his wife of fifty-nine years, Beverly, and then went on to serve on the Geneseo Police force. In 1957, Bill became a member of Stewart Lodge No. 92 in Illinois and was a Master Mason for almost sixty years.
While in the Army, Bill became interested in flying through a buddy on base whose family had extensive ranch holdings in Western Nebraska. On weekends, Bill earned his private pilot's license. He also obtained his multi-engine rating, which he was never able to use. He bought a 1947 Piper C3 from his buddy's father for $750, and after his transfer to Fort Knox, would fly home on the weekends when he had leave and land in a field east of town. He navigated using a compass and following highways and rivers as the plane had no other navigational aids.
Bill later developed an interest in an insurance career. Through his typical diligent efforts, competing against college graduates and lawyers, he secured a position as an insurance adjuster for Bituminous Casualty in Davenport, Iowa. Later, he became an adjuster for Western Casualty and moved to Colorado Springs. During this time, he studied to become a CPCU and scored #1 in his class. He was recognized for this achievement at a National Convention in San Francisco. He joined USAA in 1986 and was in management until his retirement in 1994.
After thirty-four years in Colorado Springs, Bill and Bev bought a home on an acreage in Peyton, Colorado. They enjoyed their horses and gardening in the rural setting. During his Colorado years he was continually active with his construction skills and in developing his property near Woodland Park. Bill was a longtime member of Stewart Lodge No. 92 AF&AM in Geneseo, Illinois. Through their time in Colorado, Bill and Bev shared a passion for square dancing and made many friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and sons, Kenneth and John.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly; daughter, Lori (Roger); grandchildren, Michael, Holly (Ted), and Kristina (Michael); and great-grandson, Eli Paris. He is also survived by brother, Dean (Judy) of Columbus, Ohio; sister, Lora Tremayne (Bill) of Somerset, New Jersey; and brother, Gary (Linda) of Eugene, Oregon.
A special word of thanks to his friends, Clark and Sherm for their many visits to the hospital, Michael Paris for his daily prayer sessions with Bill, the staff at The Center at Cordera, and the wonderful people with Abode Hospice of Colorado.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Geneseo, Illinois.
Memorials may be made in Bill's memory to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Springs Rescue Mission, or a charity of choice .
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazette/obituary.aspx?n=marin-william-christensen-bill&pid=183988751#sthash.MSXXX9YV.dpuf
Please use this area to recognize and share photos, stories and memories about departed members of our dancing community. If you are a registered user of the site, you can add comments by using the comment form below the article. If you are not a registered user, you can use the login / register link at the top of the page to register as a site user. Or, if you prefer, you can submit your comments by opening a help / support ticket at http://coloradosquaredance.com/index.php/support-ticket or by sending an email to A memorial for Joy Chichester has been set at the Hilton Garden Inn in the Denver Tech Center. The address is 7675 East Union Avenue Denver, on January 14, 2023, At 10:00 AM
The hotel phone number is 303-770-4200
Contact Matthew Chichester, phone number 720-381-7768, Joy's past phone number.
You are cordially invited to an inter- active Celebration of Life honoring and sharing some activities loved by Lydia Joy Chichester.
* Traditional dancing led by Chris Kermiet.
* Modern dancing led by Mike Olivieri.
* Rounding out the event will be a sing- along of Handel's Messiah, Part 33,
Lift up your heads, O ye gates
* A buffet lunch will follow the celebration.
--------------------------------------------
Please contact Molly or Marshall if you have any questions...at 303-332-4212.
Thank you.
Carol passed away on August 2, 2020. She was a member of Prairie Stars Square Dance Club for many years.
She will be remembered by many as a very sweet lady with a great disposition, always working to grow Prairie Stars.
Private services were held. Please remember her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Sympathy cards may be sent to her family at:
Carol Toft Family
1175 S. Balsam Way
Lakewood, CO 80232
Late in the year 1993 while talking with a friend, it came to mind that life as we knew it had indeed ended and it would be a good idea to learn to square dance. He enrolled in a winter class being given by the Rocky Mountain Rainbeaus club. It was taught by Robert “Bear” Miller. It was a long class that went through the heat of summer. In fact, the heat was so great Bear has never agreed to teach another winter starting class! Never-the-less Dan graduated in the Yellow Rock class and began to attend mainstream dances hosted by the Rocky Mountain Rainbeaus. Not long after, He was approached by the membership of the club to run for an office on the Board of Directors and was subsequently elected to the position of Secretary. Thus began the active political tenure of Dan in the long road to fame. The next year he was elected to the position of Vice President and successfully brought the dance scheduling of callers, which had been neglected, up to date and forward 3 years into the future. He was serving under David Crowell, who had started the process of applying for membership in the Denver Area Square and Round Dance Council. David resigned his position of President about half way through the year, leaving the application unfinished. This task was picked up and completed by Dan and the Rocky Mountain Rainbeaus was admitted to the ranks of recognized clubs in the Denver Area. Since the club was new to this organization, Dan also accepted the responsibility of being the club’s council representative and continued in that position to the time Dan left the club as a member.For the 53rd National Square Dance Convention, Dan was eventually appointed to Finance Chair. This Chair was in charge of the treasury, the accounting, the program book, vendors, and the ways and means subcommittees. It required lots of travel, patience, and expertise. Over the 5 years leading up to the Convention, Dan did his part to help the 53rd National Square Dance Convention be a financial success which continues to benefit the entire state of Colorado’s square dancers. The Convention ended with a dollar profit exceeding $50,000.
During these years Dan continued to take lessons and danced on a regular basis. He learned the calls through the Challenge 1 program. He also continued to represent his various clubs at council meetings.
After the 53rd NSDC concluded, Dan continued to support the Council by chairing the Orbiting Squares Committee; three years, acted as Parliamentarian for the Council until dance year ending June 2015, and Chaired the 55th Colorado State Square Dance Festival. This festival was held at the Keystone Resort and showed a total profit of $22,000. Half of this profit was returned to the participants of the Festival in the form of subsidies to the food and other amenities. The other half was turned over to the State Association and the Denver Council in equal shares. For the Festival Dan had a very loyal and enthusiastic group of volunteers without which the Festival would not have been possible.
