Margaret Black, matriarch of St. Mary, dies at 105

By CHRIS PETERSON - Hungry Horse News

Margaret Black, the matriarch of St. Mary for many years, has died at the age of 105.

Black was born on Nov. 21, 1902 in St. Paul, Minn. She first came to Glacier National Park in 1928 as an executive secretary with the Great Northern Railroad. She loved horses and while on a trail ride on her favorite horse she ran into Cut Bank Ranger Hugh Black.

The two hit it off, recalled Margaret s daughter, Terry Cosgrove and were eventually married in 1932. They bought 300 acres and started Black s Lodge at St. Mary. They first built cabins, Cosgrove recalled. Sometimes on the spot. Someone would ask for a cabin, and Hugh would tell them it would be done by the end of the day.

Over the years the business grew. In the early and lean years, Maragaret homeschooled the children and Hugh took on any job he could to make money. In 1948 they bought a home in St. Paul, where they would go to spend winters and in 1952 they built the first lodge at St. Mary.

Margaret was a woman of incredible energy, recalled daughter Sally Black-Welder. Many days she would get up early, work on the business, then if time allowed, she would take a hike with family or friends, come back, have a nice dinner and then when everyone was relaxed or in bed, she would balance the books for the day.

Margaret also enjoyed the social life in St. Paul, Black-Welder recalled. She liked to host parties and she enjoyed a drink with dinner, sometimes two.

She liked Manhattans, Black-Welder recalled. But not during Lent. Except for St. Patrick s Day.

She was an attractive and charismatic woman who took up cross country skiing in her 70 s and hiked well into her 90 s. She was always on a diet, even in her later years. She practiced yoga.

There s never a picture of her without having a big smile, Black-Welder said.

Margaret grew up poor, however. The oldest of six children, she skipped college to earn money so her siblings could go to a good high school.

Maragaret loved Glacier National Park and could keep up with the best of the men. Still, she always provided a woman s touch. On a trip over Glacier s Gunsight Pass, they spent the night at Sperry Chalet, Cosgrove recalled.

Maragaret made sure they had fresh linens and pillows to sleep on.

Her sense of humor and goodwill also persevered, her daughters noted. She was quick to forgive and forget a bad experience with a person, and always remembered the good things in life.

Black-Welder once came home from a date one snowy day only to find her mother, who was in her 60 s at the time, making angels in the snow.

She was, as the Frank Sinatra song goes, among the very young at heart.