Margaret Wilson Christner Williams

Margaret passed away and A 97-year journey ended on February 2nd, 2026, and on to a new heavenly life. Margaret and Twin Sister MaryJane were born to Harry Otis and Margaret Belle Dilley Wilson from Berrien Springs, on October 17th, 1928. Shortly after the new family moved to Pittsburg, Pa. where Father Harry returned to His job of taking care of the company books for the U.S. Steel company. Early life in Steel City and during the depression was full of sacrifice, but much love and caring. Harry maintained his employment, providing for his family and Mother Margaret provided a loving home, well-kept and full of wonderful homemade goods. Shortly after Sisters Helen and Anna May were born, then youngest Brother, Harry.

Now in Her 8th grade of schooling, War broke out and new way of life in a major manufacturing city became the norm. Rationing, Black outs, Air Raid Drills, scrap metal/material drives and being without question, a true sense of Great American Patriotism. The Twins and younger siblings still were able to participate in many school activities. Margaret and MaryJane took dance and ballet lessons, enjoyed going to Saturday Movies, riding the incline, enjoyed Big Band Music and of course were popular with the Boys, being known as the Good-Looking Twins.

Their upcoming Junior year of high school, 1945/46 saw the Twins being sent back to Berrien Springs to live with their Uncle Luther and Aunt Esther Dilley Burgoyne. The rest of the family would come to Berrien later, once Father Harry completed his employment and was ready to retire. With the war ending and meeting new friends at BSH, life was good.

Early in 1947, Margaret met a Dairy Farmer, Bill Christner, from Berrien Center who grew up on Smith Lake Road, Cupid struck hard, after a courtship that included many Saturday night Dances at Silver Beaches’, Shadowland and movies at the Berry Theater , Bill proposed and after graduation that same year, Margaret and Bill were married.

Bill accepted a position with the Berrien County Farm, to manage their Dairy Herd. Part of the compensation package provided housing on the Farm’s campus. The housing was a 4-room dwelling, about 400 square feet. Some would call these shacks, but I can tell you theirs were the most well-kept, handmade curtains on the windows, and freshly painted shack in all of Berrien County. Bill and Margaret often said, “you don’t have to be wealthy to have pride”. The family vehicle was a 29 Model A Ford Truck, with a wired closed passenger door, but Margaret would attest the heater worked well.

This same year Bill and His Brother Chris, home from War, were taken up to Pictured Rocks by their Uncle Henry, to Deer Hunt. They stayed in a cabin on Miners Beach. Bill instantly fell for the Great North, the Big Lake they call Gitchee Goomie and the area in general. This trip led to Bill bringing New Wife and In-laws North the next Summer. A few years later, Bill was able to buy that Cabin, in the heart of the Pictured Rocks. Trips North, going forward, happened often, like not only Bill, but Margaret and Ron, and soon Carol, along with other family members, equally loved this area too. The early trips saw the Mackinac Bridge being built from the decks of the car ferry crossing the Straits. More to come on this.

The County Farm job would lead Bill in late 1948 to City Dairy in Niles, owned by Bill and Art Saathoff. He accepted a job as a route Driver and bought a home for He and Margaret in the 17th hundred block of Howard Street. Settling into their new home and job, Son Ronald was born in April of 1949. Again, Margaret put Her golden touch on the modest home and made many friends in the area, and of course, the family Mom/Dad Wilson and siblings are back in Berrien Springs, Sister MaryJane now Married and living in Niles too and a Brand-New Car, with working doors.

Bill now off and running in his new position, Margaret saw to it, that His customers at minimum got a Christmas Card every year and often would acknowledge them with a Big Thank You for being a loyal supporter of the Dairy Products Bill sold.

A few years later, in 1951, Bill had an opportunity to be a Distributor of City Dairy Products, in New Buffalo. He, Margaret, and Son Ron, make the move living on East Michigan Street. The house, having a walk-in cooler in the garage, where Bill could store his products, and of course Margaret able again to put Her touch on the new home. In this new role she took care of the billing and paperwork for Bill’s company, and as always, was sure to acknowledge the very people that supported the family business.

With the business doing well, Bill was asked to return to Niles and work for Saathoff’s newly formed enterprise, United Dairies. He sold his operation in New Buffalo, and the family moved back to Niles. Margaret now soon to give birth to Daughter Carol, the family bought a newly built home in the 17th block of Cedar. Carol arrived in July 1954.

Bill’s new role working for the Saathoff family was route Supervisor, Sales Manager, and eventually was named General Manager when the Saathoff family sold their business to Berrien County Milk Producers, mid 60’s. All along the way, Margaret continued to acknowledge the customers supporting our family and took on a new roll of coordinating events for the team, Bill managed, whether it be a Christmas Party, Summer Picinic, Margaret had a talent of bringing folks together, being dubbed, Hostess with the Mostess.

Bill and Margaret became good friends with Jim and Alda Frucci, among other things friends do, were able to attend many Notre Dame Games as Jim had Season Tickets. All was good until ND played Michigan State, where Bill took some courses after the War and of course had to support the Sparties, however Margaret maintained Her ND support. This also included trips to Bowl Games which usually served as Winter Vaca for the group.

Now we are in the late 60’s, industry is leaving greater Niles as well as other Michigan communities. Smaller Dairies are being bought by larger ones and was clear to Bill that to remain in this line of work, a move was needed. A hard decision it was, leaving a very tight and close family in Berrien County, but with Margarets full support, Bill accepted a position with The Kroger Company, Dairy Foods Division, in early 1970. This would take Bill and Margaret to Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, where Kroger had just built and opened the largest Dairy in the U.S., and eventually to the Greater Cincinnati Area, where Bill was promoted to the home office and named National Sales Manager for All outside Sales. In this role, there was a new type of Customer Margaret would help Bill with. Again, events, outings, parties, where she made folks feel at home, entertained and well fed.

Bill and Margaret settled in Northern Kentucky, where they bought a condo as Bill began his new role. Around the same time, legislation established Pictured Rocks as a National Lakeshore. The National Park Service acquired 40 miles of Lake Superior shoreline from Munising to Grand Marais, Michigan. Within the park, cabins, homes, and other dwellings were purchased by the government, dismantled, and the land was returned to its natural state. It was a difficult loss for Margaret, who loved walking the mile-long beach in search of unique driftwood and one-of-a-kind stones, or enjoying the fall colors, and sheer power of the Big Lake.

The dwelling on Mother Superior now gone, thoughts of leisure time turned South and Bill n Margaret found a cabin on Lake Cumberland, close and easy to get to. Though was not the Great Lakes, it did have much water to navigate, scenery, and even driftwood. Was a great relaxing place to be. New friends were made and much memorable time was spent on into the late 80’s.

Going into the last decade of the 20th century, would be a very low point for Margaret, Bill now gone and Twin MaryJane losing Her battle with Cancer, was a very sad time. Then a true Knight in shining armor appeared. This gentleman was a classmate of the Twins at BSHS. He had recently lost his wife to cancer. Hearing MaryJane was hospitalized in Niles, He made a visit and reconnected with both Margaret and MaryJane, reminisced about the school days and was able to warm the Twins hearts.

Shortly after, this Man named Lloyd David Williams, retired from the Berrien County Court System, of Coloma, made a few trips to Northern, Ky and rekindled relationships with Margaret. He and Margaret were married, and bought a home on Riverside Trail, in Berrien Springs, bringing Margaret back to where life had started.

Margaret and Lloyd, enjoyed many good years of traveling the U.S., going on gambling junkets, regulars dancing at the Round Oak on Saturday nights, attending Korean War Veteran events, with their good friends the Millers, and of course, supporting the local Legion Post 85 on a regular basis.

As it is with life, Margaret and Lloyd, now in their early 90’s, got to the point where driving was not a good option and fortunately they both had presence of mind to know it. They sold the Berrien Springs house and moved to Northern Kentucky, where Daughter Carol lives. They settled into a Senior Style living area, where Carol and Her family, could tend to their needs, when needed. They both had their minds and health. Lloyd suddenly passed over the Christmas Holiday in 2021.

Margaret would remain in a Senior Living Center for a few more years, close to Carol and Pat, Carols husband, where she could interact with folks, play Euchre, and maintain Her own, meticulously decorated apartment.

Around age 95, Margaret moved in with Daughter Carol and Pat. Had Her own room, was still able to navigate, feed and clothe herself, and interact with Carol’s Children/Grandchildren/Great Grandchildren.

She made one more trip to Her beloved Upper Peninsula at age 97, along with Carol/Pat, and Her Twin’s Son Rick Locke, staying at Ron and Cyndi’s place on Mother Superior. A Good time was had by all. We ate, drank, and spoke to happy times. We truly believed Margaret/Mother would see a 100, but God had a different plan.

Margaret was proceeded in death by Parents Harry O and Margaret B Dilley Wilson, Twin MaryJane Locke (Larry), Husbands Willis Dean “Bill” Christner, Lloyd David Williams, Sisters Helen Steinhilber, Anna May Conelley, Son-in-law Todd Carr, Sister-in- law Betty Wilson.

Carrying on Her legacy Son Ronald Dean Christner (Cyndi) of Laughing Whitefish Point, Mi., Daughter Carol Bradley Carr (Pat) of Walton, Ky, Grandchildren Jennifer Tritschler (Kevin Colwell), Tyler (Leann) Carr, Taryne (Ricky) Case, Great Grandchildren Cortlandt and Ashlandt Tritschler, Emmalynn and Griffin Carr, Ryan and Sloane Case, Great-Great Granddaughter Oaklynn Marie Tritschler, ALL of Walton, Ky. Brother Harry Wilson of Rowlett, Tx., Brother in laws, Don Steinhilber of Nashville, Tn., Kenneth Christner (Maryland) of Edwardsburg, Mi., Fred Connelley of Liberty Twp, Oh., and Honorary second Son Rick (Nancy) Locke of Crestview Hills, Ky. MANY other Beloved Family and Friends who Truly meant much to Margaret.

A graveside service Provided by Allred/Bowerman Funeral Home and words of Prayer by Nephew Don Steinhilber, will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs, On July 8th, 2026 at 1:30 PM. A gathering of Family and Friends thereafter at Legion Post 85.