Margery “Marge” Cushman, 97, formerly of Seagull Lake on the Gunflint Trail and Palm Desert, Calif., passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2019 in Bloomington, Minn.
Marge was born on March 9, 1922 in Minneapolis to Dr. Rudolph and Huldah Delton. She graduated Washburn High School in Minneapolis and then attended the University of Minnesota where she met her love, Robert Cushman Sr. They married on July 17, 1942.
In 1955, Bob and Marge moved to Grand Marais where they purchased Diamond Willow Lodge on Seagull Lake. They renamed it Sea Island Lodge and over the years built not only the resort but lifelong relationships with their guests and neighbors. With their children, they floated the old lodge building log by log to its current location and hosted residents and guests of Seagull Lake in the dining room and the cabins they built as part of the growing resort.
Marge was famous up the Gunflint Trail for her homemade rolls and onion pie served in the dining room of the lodge. She took joy in preparing home cooked meals for their guests and was always ready for conversation and libations. During the winter months, Marge and Bob lived in Grand Marais where she served as a substitute teacher and took in sewing projects on the side. In 1978, they sold Sea Island Lodge and continued to enjoy summers on Seagull Lake entertaining family and friends. Winters were spent in Palm Desert golfing, soaking in the sunshine, and hosting cocktail parties.
Marge’s love for entertaining was vibrant until the very end. She will be dearly missed, but we are so blessed to have had 97 wonderful years of her here on earth.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob; and brothers Rudolph B. Delton and John Delton.
Marge is survived by her three children, Cindy (Tony) Schreiner of Fridley, Robert (Janine) Cushman Jr. of Duluth and Nancy (Bruce) Anderson of Bloomington; grandchildren Sara (Patrick Vescio) Schreiner, Cathryn (Rick) Erickson, Martha (John) Clark, Jaime (Nate) Myrold, Merrick (Sara) Anderson, Jeff (Candy) Cushman, Marin (Erik) Barton, and Troy Cushman; great-grandchildren Luca, Jozefa, Mariella, Julia, Abbigail, Natalie, Reagan, Breccan, Nathan, Aili, Elenora, and Kendrik, many of whom were fortunate to have incredibly close relationships with their “Grammy Cush.”
A celebration of Marge’s life will be held on Friday, August 9 from 1-4 p.m. at the Raven Rock Grill at Sky Port Lodge on Devil Track Lake, 205 Fireweed Lane, Grand Marais.
She will be buried next to her beloved husband Bob in Maple Hill Cemetery, Grand Marais.
Downs Funeral Home, Superior, Wis., is assisting the family with arrangements. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.downsfh.com.
Leave a Reply