Former Whitefish mayor, community leader Marge Fisher dies
Longtime Whitefish civic leader and community volunteer Marjorie “Marge” Fisher contributed to the Flathead Valley in numerous ways throughout the past five decades.
She was the first woman mayor in Whitefish in the early 90s, she served two terms in the Montana State Legislature and represented several nonprofit organizations, serving on a plentiful number of local boards and committees, according to Pilot archives. She was selected as the First Lady of Whitefish in 1996 and then was honored with the Chamber of Commerce’s Great Whitefish Award in 2011 for her service in the community.
On Feb. 22, Fisher died at the age of 89 in Whitefish.
She was born in December of 1932 in Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Fisher grew up in the midwest, attending schools in both Minnesota and Iowa, and graduated high school in 1950. She moved to the Flathead Valley in 1968 and eventually ended up in Whitefish in the early 80s.
Fisher wasted no time getting involved in the community after moving to the valley. As a forester turned financial planner later in life, she willingly offered her talents in many ways that ultimately benefited everyone around her.
When running for Mayor in 1989, Fisher spoke of her love and dedication to Whitefish.
“I feel that I have a definite interest in the community and I think it’s pretty apparent from the time I have dedicated to community affairs,” Fisher told the Pilot in 1989. “...I feel that I get along well with people and would give a good reflection of the community.”
She was elected as mayor and served proudly from 1990 to 1992. Her daughter Jennifer Hershman recalls driving her in a parade at the time and she says her mother was so excited to be the mayor of Whitefish.
Those close to Fisher describe her as strong, determined, stubborn and the most generous person you could ever meet. Hershman says that’s the quality she admired most about her mother.
“Her generosity which was huge,” Hershman recalled.
While giving endlessly to her neighbors of the Flathead Valley, Fisher was also raising a family. She has two daughters, Jennifer Hershman and Virginia Goodrich, that she inspired to be strong, kind and generous. Hershman says her mother was high energy and that’s how she was able to balance the many aspects of her life. She always had to be busy and working to accomplish the next project ahead.
According to the family, two of the accomplishments Fisher was most proud of included her work helping to build the Whitefish library and leading the charge for the Whitefish Soroptimists to move into its current location on First Street; she was instrumental in both.
“She was a dynamo, and to the end stubborn,” Hershman said with a laugh. “She was a wonderful mother and I don’t think I could have gotten any better.”
Another moment of pride for Fisher was serving in the state legislature. She served two terms, was dedicated to her role on the appropriations committee and attempted to run for the state senate as well. Former Montana Secretary of State and friend of Fisher, Bob Brown remembers how determined she was serving on the legislature representing Whitefish and surrounding areas.
“She was deeply intelligent; she was outspoken… you knew where Marge stood — personally or in her public life,” he said.
Brown also added, “She enjoyed the challenge. If she saw what she thought were important changes that needed to be made she definitely had the courage to step up and take them on.”
Brown spoke of Fisher’s dedication to serving the public during her time in the legislature but says even as she aged and was no longer in good health, she still cared intensely about the issues facing the community. According to Brown, just one year ago, Fisher, himself and their friend Donna Maddux met to discuss how they could address what they saw as current problems, including the need to get more young women involved in local politics and the republican party.
Women’s empowerment and helping women advance in the workplace was another passion of Fishers. She served several organizations that worked to encourage women to seek out their passions no matter the societal pressures they might face.
She spent decades serving with the Whitefish Soroptimists, which provides women with education and training to achieve economic empowerment. Her friend and fellow Soroptimist Flo Williams remembers Fisher helping many young women get the right clothes, practice for interviews and even giving them a ride to interviews when needed.
“She had a very strong personality, “ Williams said. “If anything needed to be done, she found a way to do it. She was just that type of personality that could do it.”
Empowering women, including her own daughters, was a priority for Fisher.
“I think it’s important for girls to have women role models,” she said in a 1996 Pilot article.
Throughout the years, Fisher also served the community through organizations like Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Business and Professional Women, United Way, Flathead Economic Policy Center, Flathead County Library board, Flathead Economic Development Corporation, Women of Whitefish, and so many more. Later in life, she became impassioned with being involved in the North Valley Music School as well.
Fisher lived life in the fast lane — she loved fast cars and rollercoasters. She was always up for an adventure even later in life enjoying whitewater rafting and skydiving according to her obituary. She played several instruments, traveled to all 50 states and several countries, became an author, and did genealogy.
Brown said he didn’t know Fisher went skydiving before reading her obituary, but, “that didn’t surprise me about Marge Fisher. That’s who Marge was.”
Fisher is survived by her daughters, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, brother, sister-in-law, and many nephews, nieces and friends.
A small memorial service is being planned for this spring according to Fisher’s obituary.
Memorials may be sent to Big Brothers and Sisters of Whitefish and Shining Mountains Center for Spiritual Living, Kalispell.
