Our good friend Marj
After a long and productive life, our good friend Marjorie Nienstedt died. She not only was this newspaper's good friend, and former associate, but was a good friend to all who knew her.
Marj and her late husband, Alvin, ran the Antelope store and post office for decades. Folks would stop by for a friendly visit, even though they were not in need of anything except conversation. The store didn't gross a great deal of revenue, and the post office served a scant few customers. But people made their way to Antelope to visit Marj.
She and Alvin would sit in their favorite chairs on the front porch. She'd knit and Alvin would hold the yarn. It was a picture that could grace any magazine, but to be complete the photo would need audio. It was their conversation that was so heartwarming and enjoyable.
Most newspapers have stopped the practice of publishing community correspondents. That's a mistake. To serve the community, community newspapers must have community news. And Marj supplied it in spades.
She would report on the comings and goings of people across the area, tell about the birth of a batch of kittens, and the condition of a nasty carbuncle on Alvin's neck.
Readers loved the Antelope news because they loved Marj. There was no doubt about it, this newspaper had a multitude of readers who subscribed merely for Marj's column.
From time to time Marj and the editor would have a disagreement over something, usually why we'd taken something out of her "items" as she called them. Marj would get as sore as Alvin's carbuncle and quit. A couple of weeks later a contrite Marj would come into the office and say, "Bill, I don't see how you put up with me. Can I start writing again?" Of course we welcomed her with open arms.
That's the way her "Good Lord" must have received her in Heaven. The devoted member of Marion Christian Church will soon be active in all the affairs up there. We only wish she could write a column.
— BILL MEYER
