Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2021
Marjorie (Marge) Ries was born in December of 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, daughter of Joseph and Irene Ries. Though she was born in Minneapolis, her heart was in Shakopee, where her grandparents lived. She married James Henderson and had five children.
Marge’s father was mayor of Shakopee in 1960, and Marge’s son, Jeff Henderson, served as mayor from 1996 to 1997. Marge was a woman of many facets, which started after attending St, Margaret’s Academy and the College of St. Catherine. She used her background to work at various types of work, including social workmen teaching, public relations, and government jobs as city recorder and administrator in Shakopee.
Marge was well known for her tireless involvement in local government, beginning with being hired as Shakopee city administrator, then serving over thirty years on the Scott County CDA, championing issues of housing and redevelopment. Her commitment to her community extended to serving on numerous boards of directors for civic organizations and her beloved St. Mary’s Church. Marge spent her life in service but was always a loving mother dedicated to her family and friends.
After retiring, she spent five years as the director of Murphy’s Landing (now The Landing), where, in 1986, a former director had absconded with $15,000 in museum funds, and the buildings at the 19th century village were falling into disrepair. Three Rivers Park District bought The Landing in 2002.
Marge agreed to step in as a director for three or four months, but she ended up there for five years.
She implicated a new accounting system, completed an accurate inventory of the site’s historical artifacts, and helped supervise almost all 88 buildings, according to Sheila Evertz from the Shakopee Valley News in 1991. Marge also built up the gate attendance to where it accounted for 87 percent of the site’s revenues.
Marge had strictly adhered to recreating an 1800s town. She helped instill in Murphy’s the grace and dignity of a Williamsburg, Virginia without the massive amounts of federal financial support, said Marge in an article in the Shakopee Valley News on December 26, 1991. Interpreters costumed in garb of the trade and time perform among the carefully restored homes, businesses, school and church.
Marge knew that serving the community was very important for her. In an article in the Shakopee Valley News on June 3, 1981, Marge need “When you get involved in your community, your community becomes more personal; you become part of it and it becomes part of you. That’s so important.”
Carol Thaemert remembered Marge, “I am so glad I got to meet and become friends with Marge. She had a great sense of humor and was one of the brightest women I knew. I will never forget how giving and kind she was and how much she loved her children.”
Marjorie “Marge” Ries Henderson died on January 30, 2010, at age 83. She was survived by her children, Gregory, Jeffrey, Patricia and Elizabeth. Marge hoped to comfort her family and friends and hoped someday they will be rejoined once again around the dinner table to share stories, debate issues, and laugh until heaven shakes. Marge was buried at the Catholic Cemetery on 10th Avenue.
Bibliography
Evertz, Sheila. Shakopee Valley News, 26 Dec. 1991.
Shakopee Valley News, 3 June 1981.