Legendary, beloved Margaret Colf Hepola succumbs

Historian, philanthropist and regional treasure Margaret Colf Hepola of Woodland died peacefully Dec. 6, 2014, at her Etna Road home. She was 97.

Margaret was born Margaret Leona Haller on May 27, 1917, on the Birt homestead, which is now under the waters of Lake Merwin. She attended nearby Marble Creek and Clover Valley elementary schools and graduated from Woodland High School in 1934.

Her parents, Albert and Irene Mason Haller, sold Margaret’s childhood home in 1930 due to the construction of the Merwin Dam on the North Fork of the Lewis River. For years after, Margaret wondered of the fate of her precious locust trees that surrounded her beloved home, all beneath the rising waters that the dam created.

A prolific writer, Margaret later wrote an essay entitled Water Babies, her recollections of the 1930 damming of the river and flooding of the Lewis River valley.

After high school, Margaret worked for several years at the farmer co-op store in Woodland. She met Walter E. Colf at a dance in 1940 and the couple married in 1941.

Prior to their marriage, Walter owned and operated the Etna General Store. Upon returning from their honeymoon, Margaret began managing the store and Walter started working as a logger. A short while later, they started their own logging and sawmill business. They successfully ran both businesses until 1948 when they sold the store and purchased an adjacent 100 acre farm. At that time they also purchased nearby tracts of timber as an investment for the future. They continued to operate the logging and sawmill business throughout Southwest Washington. Margaret was a partner with Walter in all facets of the business, including accounting, cruising timber and even in the operations.

Daughter Sharon was born in 1942, followed by sons Richard in 1943 and Robert in 1949. Daughter Nancy was born in 1951 and daughter Mary rounded out the family in 1952.

During this time, Walter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. An operation performed in 1950 successfully removed the tumor. Walter continued logging and farming for the next 12 years. He died in a logging accident in 1962.

At age 47 in 1964, Margaret married Edwin Hepola who, like her first husband, also worked as a logger. Edwin died of a heart attack in 1977.

Margaret was a founding member of the Green Mountain Baptist Church and remained active in that church for 66 years.

Margaret graduated from Clark College in 1961, earning a 4.0 grade average. For several years, she took part in “Write Your Own History” enrichment classes in Woodland and chronicled her life. She did genealogical research dating back to the early 1600s. A room in her home contains extensive historical information that she had accumulated and cataloged.

Margaret extended her interest in history to a life of philanthropy. In 1980, she spearheaded an effort to restore the Cedar Creek Grist Mill, which was rebuilt and is now operating and open for public tours.

Margaret was active in the Clark County Historical Museum, the Cowlitz County Historical Museum and the Clark County Genealogical Society for many years, and was instrumental in the development of the North Clark Historical Museum in Amboy. She was involved in the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens during its years of development. She was a lifelong member of the Daughters of the Pioneers. She donated her time as a Cemetery District 5 commissioner for the past 51 years.

With the help of her sons, Margaret purchased buildings in both La Center and Woodland that now house museums. She purchased a site in La Center for the relocation and renovation of a former hospital building to become a new city library. She assisted in the renovations of the La Center Grange and Hayes Cemetery. In 1999, she donated a grand piano to La Center High School.

“There was hardly a day that Margaret didn’t write about the history of our area,’’ said Barbara Barnhart, president of the La Center Historical Museum, of which Margaret was a founding member. “She once confided to me that she was a one-fingered typist on her computer.  She loved Clark County and Cowlitz County history and supported at least five museums during her lifetime.  She will be greatly missed.’’

In 2010, Margaret purchased the Summit Grove Lodge with the intention of preserving the historical structure. Summit Grove has since been rebuilt into a showplace for weddings and Sunday and holiday brunches.

Margaret once attributed her love of history to the loss of her flooded childhood home. “Perhaps that’s why I want to save everything, why I love history and don’t like change,” she told a reporter in 2012. “I’ll never forget that feeling of loss, and today I’m trying to do everything I can to preserve our history, our historic buildings and our way of life.”

Over the years, Margaret received numerous awards and honors. In 2001 she was named Clark County Tree Farmer of the Year. In 2012, she was awarded the inaugural lifetime giving award from the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. In 2010 she was recognized for her “life works as a true humanitarian” by the Washington State House of Representatives. Upon receiving this award she said, “You only take out of this world, when you leave it, what you have given away and the kindness you have shown to others. The most important thing you can give others is your time and concern of their welfare.”

For many years, Margaret kept the financial books for son Robert’s construction company. She stopped doing this work at age 85 in 2002.

Jim Malinowski, current member and former president of the board of the North Clark Historical Museum, praised Margaret’s contributions. “The thing I remember most is how she gave her time, and how she focused her philanthropy on local projects,” said Malinowski. “She had an amazing sense of history. It was a joy to get to know her.”

Margaret Colf Hepola was preceded in death by brothers Mel Haller in 2012, Bob Haller in 1981 and Albert Haller in 1915, and sister AnnaBelle Bauman in 2014.

Margaret is survived by her children, daughters Sharon (Bill) Giberson, Nancy Colf and Mary (Dan) Hayden, all of Woodland, sons Richard Colf of Woodland and Robert (Linda) Colf of La Center, and step-son Larry Hepola of Virginia. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Clayton (Jessie) Giberson of Portland, Forrest (Wendy) Giberson of Seattle, Annalise (Matt) Galbraith of Portland, Desery (Bethany) Hayden of Ridgefield, Benjamin (Ashley) Hayden of Woodland, Molly Hayden of San Francisco, and Halle Colf, Garrett Colf and Dylan Colf, all of La Center; step-granddaughters Angela Hepola and Tina Hepola, both of Virginia, step-grandsons Jeff Gaudet of Colorado and Steve Hepola of Portland, great-granddaughter Clio Marquez Giberson of Portland, and step-great-granddaughters Avari Harrison and Eden Harrison, both of Ridgefield.

Graveside services will be held Wed., Dec. 10, 1 p.m., at Hayes Cemetery which is located about three miles east of Woodland on Cedar Creek Road in Clark County.

A celebration of life will take place Fri., Dec. 12, 11 a.m., at Vancouver First Church of God, 3300 NE 78th St., Vancouver. A reception will be held following the celebration of life at Summit Grove Lodge, 30810 NE Timmen Rd., Ridgefield.

Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to the North Clark Historical Museum, P.O. Box 296, Amboy, WA 98601; the La Center Historical Museum, 33920 NW Pacific Hwy, La Center, WA 98629; the Woodland Historical Museum Society, 417 Park St., Woodland, WA 98674; the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98660; and the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, 405 Allen St., Kelso, WA 98626.

Layne’s Funeral Home, Battle Ground, is in charge of arrangements.