Margaret A. Droge Kirk, 87, of Sabetha, KS, formerly of Riverside, CA, died Thursday, March 29, 2001, at the Sabetha Manor care home in Sabetha. She had recently been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

She was born February 3, 1914, on a farm southwest of Du Bois, NE, the daughter of Henry and Gertrude Berdau Droge. Later in 1914 the family moved to Valley County, MT, to homestead 320 acres of land. They moved back to Kansas in 1917 to live on the Conrad Droge homestead in northern Nemaha County, near Bern, KS, now the Leslie Droge farm.

She attended the rural Prairie Grove School and Bern High School. Following high school she worked in Kansas City and St. Louis, before moving to California. She was a model in California for tall women’s clothes. Later she was employed by Pacific Bell as a telephone operator.

After retirement she lived in Riverside, CA. In the fall of 1999 she returned to Kansas and lived at the Sabetha Assisted Living Home until she became ill.

She was married to John Kirk and together they operated a restaurant in Newport Beach, CA. They later divorced.

Margaret was a member of the Friedens United Church of Christ near Bern, KS, and was previously a member of Rebecca Lodge in Riverside, CA.

Survivors are six brothers, Emil and Leslie Droge of Seneca, KS, Charles Droge of Snohomish, WA, Arden Droge of Leawood, KS, Harry Droge of Council Grove, KS, and John Droge of Morningside, MD.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Roads and Eleanor Duello, and two brothers, Leonard and Clarence Droge.

Memorial service will be 10 AM Saturday, April 7, at the Friedens United Church of Christ. Inurnment will be in Friedens Cemetery.

Memorials may be given for Friedens United Church of Christ.