Margaret Bingham Farmer

My Grandma.    I wish everyone had the chance to know my Grandma; as she was known to me.  Her name is Margaret Bingham Farmer.  She was born on February 19, 1926 in Preston, Idaho.  She died on July 20, 2017 at the age of 91 in Centerville, Utah.  I think she was anxious to spend grandpa’s birthday with him after 6 years of separation.  Ninety One years!!  Hyphens are an interesting thing, 1926-2017.  I have also heard them referred to as ‘the dash’ in the context of headstones.  What have you done or will do with your dash?  Your life.  The in-between parts.  Here are some of Margaret’s.

She was born to Wilford Hansen Bingham and Anna Eliza Thoresen.  Her father passed away when she was not even 18 months old.  In November 1941, her mother remarried Ferdinand Christian Christensen Jr.  Margaret was the youngest of 6 sisters:  Margene (who died at age 2), Eldine, Grace, Mary, Carol, and Margaret.  They were a tight knit group and would get together and play word games as often as time would allow.  All of her parents and sisters preceded her in death.

She was married to Jay Roland Farmer on January 23, 1946.  She was the yin to his yang.  He was a bit curmudgeonly and gruff and she was serene and gentle.  She cared for him during the final years of his life as she had done for her mother during her last years.  To call her a saint is an understatement.

They had six children:  twin babies Jay Jr. and Gregg (who both died at birth), Kirk (Cindy), of Wellsville, Kip (Bonnie), of Millville, Keena (Jeff Ludwig), of Sandy, and Klixi (Irvin Jacob), of Fruit Heights.  She also served as a substitute mother for numerous young women as part of an Unwed mothers program,  housing, supporting, and loving these women and their babies during a trying time in their lives.

She has 15 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.  But so many more call her grandma.  She would always sew an individual gift on holidays and birthdays for each child and grandchild and their spouses.  The Christmas tradition was everyone would open them at the same time in grandma’s presence.  It was chaos; wonderful, loving, self-less chaos.  Three of the favorites were the pillow monsters, quillows, and the nightshirts she made: thanks to Dusty!

My Grandma was unassumingly amazing.  She was kind, funny, clever, curious, independent, insightful, dedicated, loving, loyal, beautiful, and still so much more. She did truly incredible things.  Shortly after high school she boarded a train to New York to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion.  She was there when WWII ended, in fact, and indeed, a sailor grabbed her in the street and kissed her, just like in the iconic photograph.  She designed wardrobes for three Boy Scout promotional films.  She was the first one to sing the BYU fight song!  One of her prized possessions was the sheet music signed by her friend Clyde D.  Sandgren, the composer.  She ran one of Centerville’s longest running businesses, Margaret’s School of Custom Dressmaking, for over 50 years!   

My grandma was a seamstress.  I remember an instance when I was really into ninjas.  One day at the end of a visit I asked her if she would make me a ninja mask, hoping that she would make it for my birthday, which was coming up.  She asked a few questions and walked away.  About 15 minutes later she handed me a freshly made mask, which smelled, just like her sewing room!  On my birthday that year she gave me another mask with improvements that she had thought about and added on later.

I am sure there are hundreds of people who could tell even better stories about her skills as a seamstress.  She has taught hundreds to sew.  Mainly girls but when you are in this family, even as a boy, you better at least know how to thread a machine and set your foot correctly!!  My grandma taught people from ages 6-80+.  Her sewing room was a special place.  It’s where we would always go looking for her, where she mostly spent her days.  It’s where she taught and socialized and loved, where stories were told and hearts were shared.  It’s where she made the wedding dresses for those who married into our family.  It’s where she came up with ideas for Christmas and birthdays. It’s where love bloomed and flourished.

Margaret Bingham Farmer 1926-2017…I think she used her dash well!

Not only was my grandma all of these things, but she was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.  She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She never wavered in her faith.  She was grateful for the restoration of the gospel, for Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon.  She held various callings throughout her years of dedicated service. 

Grandma you will be missed, but we are happy for you.  We are glad that you are reunited with Grandpa Jay.  We are glad that you get to embrace your sons.  We are glad that you finally get to converse with your earthly father, Wilford.  At this time though we are most glad that we were able to call you Grandma, Mom, Teacher, and Friend.  We love you.

Viewings will be Tuesday, July 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Russon Brothers 295 N. Main St., Bountiful, and Wednesday, July 26, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at the Centerville 7th Ward, 270 N. 300 East, Centerville. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at the Centerville 7th Ward.  Graveside dedication will be at the Preston Idaho Cemetery at 3:30 p.m.