Marjorie "Marge" Hatfield, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2026, at 8:50 a.m., following a long and well-lived life devoted to family, faith, friendship, and service to others.

Marge was born to George and Lettie Berry, one of six children (Harriet, George, Gene, and two younger sisters that died during infancy—Joyce and Lettie). She grew up in the Iowa communities of Dexter, Montezuma, Grinnell, and Ewart, forming friendships that lasted throughout her lifetime. She often laughed about attending a one-room school where, for a year, she was the only student in her class and therefore could claim to be both the best and the worst student.

In 1954, she met the love of her life, Murl Dean Hatfield. Murl often recalled it as love at first sight when he first saw Marge at church. After just a 40-day courtship (her father didn’t realize that until many decades later!), they were married on October 10, 1954, beginning a partnership rooted in faith, devotion, and enduring love that lasted more than 66 years. Together they made a life in Ewart, Newton, and then Exline Iowa. While their home was where their heart remained, they also traveled to visit family around the United States, went on cruises off of California and Alaska, visited Hawaii, and saw the Egyptian pyramids. Their home was also were their animals lived—they loved sharing their home with the beloved cats and dogs. After Murl’s passing, Marge lived again in Newton, before moving to Brooklyn Community (Iowa).

Throughout her life, Marge enjoyed working and connecting with people. She babysat children when she was young and later worked in retail for Yonkers, Kmart, and Walmart. Although she managed the electronics department, she was perhaps best known as a Walmart greeter. Family members joked that because she knew nearly everyone in town, customers often spent more time visiting with Marge than shopping.

Marge and Murl were blessed with four children: William Hatfield, Richard (and his wife JoJo) Hatfield, Donald (and his wife Hannah Zhang) Hatfield, and Barbara Chaudhary. She experienced the heartbreaking loss of her son William in 1990, but her strength, faith, and commitment to family never wavered. William died on February 2, 1990, and is buried in Salem Cemetery in Exline, Iowa near Murl and his family.

She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Murl, who passed away in 2020 after more than six decades of marriage, a grandson, Michael, and both her and Murl’s siblings.

Marge's greatest joy was her family. She leaves behind her children; 13 grandchildren (Shawn, Heather, Ara, Lanna, Dawn, Misty, Shanon, Taylor, Austin, Violet, Sidney, Jana, and Lyla), over thirty great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends whose lives were enriched by her kindness and generosity. Marge’s love of her pets was so strong that she passed it on to her descendants.

Those who knew Marge will remember her warm smile, gentle spirit, steadfast faith, and genuine interest in others. She had a gift for making people feel welcome and valued, and her love for family was evident in everything she did.

While her family grieves her loss, they find comfort in knowing that Marge and Murl are together again. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the friendships she nurtured, and the love she shared so freely throughout her life.