Margaret Edith Black

Margaret Edith Fenwick was born on September 30, 1928 in Caldwell Idaho to Joseph and Edith (Dee Dee) Fenwick. She passed away March 22, 2023 in Boise, Idaho. She and younger sister Mary (Sissy) Fenwick were raised on the Fenwick Ranch on Succor Creek near Jordan Valley, Oregon, attending primary schools in Rockville and Jordan Valley graduating from Jordan Valley High School in 1947. She studied business at Oregon State University and at Boise Business School.

Being raised with her sister on that cattle outfit on the Idaho-Oregon border, it was a time when horses were used for all jobs done on the ranch. Day to day working with horses started a lifelong appreciation of any kind of horse and any kind of job or events involving horses.

Margaret met Joe Black at a Jordan Valley dance in 1948, fell in love and they were married April 1, 1949 in Elko, Nevada. Together they raised nine kids; eight boys and one girl living on family ranches in Oreana, Bruneau and Indian Cove. They owned and operated cattle ranches throughout much of Owyhee and Elmore counties. With young children in tow, Margaret handled irrigating duties on the Indian Cove Ranch while the other family members divided and covered many other parts of the cattle and farming operations.

Having nine children in eighteen years, it’s amazing how she had time to make each of her children feel special every day. She planned and provided for a large amount of food, clothing, shopping, cleaning, laundry, chauffeuring. Margaret fed large ranch crews, was an outstanding cook and very resourceful. Meals were delicious with an order and discipline of how the large amount of food to feed eleven family members and extras arrived. There was always enough food, and the strong bodies and minds she helped produce by her daily chores is a testament to her work ethic and love of family.

Margaret was a woman of strong Catholic faith, devoted to the Rosary, Divine Mercy, loved her Guardian Angel, and was a teacher of that faith by her words and example. Her faith provided a steadying impact in good times and tough times, she never lost her faith. She had an ability to pass that faith on to her children, in-laws, grandchildren, and friends. She had a knack of being humbly supportive to her husband and children in all their endeavors whether it be athletic events, business undertakings, career choices and major life decisions. Prayer was always encouraged as a part of the process, and she let everyone know they were loved and prayed for. Making a wide circle of friends through their many activities together, Margaret and Joe enjoyed bridge clubs, her social sorority friendships, their ranching community and business contacts, large extended families, school sporting events, her quilting and lots of rodeo. She served many years with Glenns Ferry Health Clinic board and with St Bridget’s Altar Society.

Later in life she lived her dream by purchasing several miniature studs and mares and enjoyed her love of horses by breeding, training, traveling and showing the horses in shows all around the West. She had one extraordinary horse called “Pintie” who was a world champion driving pony that delighted her beyond measure.

Margaret was a quilter, an artist whose palette was fabric, needle and thread. Her eye for design, composition, color, and her attention to detail helped her create hundreds of quilts that were a work of art. Margaret will be remembered for the love of the craft and her willingness to share all she had and knew, and the thrill she had seeing the success of others. Her generosity in donating quilts for fund raisers and gifts to family and friends have wrapped many in her love. A large part of Margaret is woven into the hearts of those with whom she shared. Margaret would be the first to say “No quilt is perfect. Only God is perfect!”

Margaret was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Edith Fenwick, her sister Mary Maher, her husband Joseph Black, her daughter Celia Tindall, and grandson Blaise Black, brothers and sisters in-law; Charles Maher, Clarence and Virginia Miller, Asa and Marylin Black, Douglas Black, and Robert C. Black. She is survived by her eight sons, Danial of Indian Cove, Robert of Congress, Arizona, Jay of Indian Cove, Douglas (Darlene) of Eagle, Joseph Christopher of Bruneau, Lowell of Elko, NV, Timothy (Stephanie) of Boise, and Joseph Sean (Cherrynn) of Wenatchee, WA. A son-in-law David Tindall (Celia) of Bruneau, a sister-in-law Linda Black of Nampa, twenty-nine grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, many nieces, and nephews and a truly great number of lifelong friends.

A viewing will be held at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home on Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 4:30pm to 5:45pm. A Rosary will follow at 6:00pm. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00am at Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Mountain Home, on Friday, April 14, 2023 and burial to follow at the Bruneau Cemetery. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall in Bruneau.

The family wishes to thank the dedicated staff members at Truewood Assisted Living and First Choice Hospice for their care, support, friendship and love in Margaret’s final years and months.

The family would like memorial donations to be made to the Bruneau American Legion #83, PO Box 582 Bruneau, ID 83604, or Bruneau Quick Response Unit PO Box 294 Bruneau, ID 83604.