Margaret Bond Odegard passed away on February 12, 2021 in Chanhassen, Minnesota at age 95. She was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, daughter of Robert W. and Irene Bond and older sister to Robert Jr., Kathleen, and Patrick. She studied English literature and poetry at Agnes Scott College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947, and at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she received a Masters of Arts degree in 1949 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1956. In Madison she met and married Holtan Peter Odegard, a graduate student in political science. They raised a family of one daughter and four sons. She held teaching positions in English at Rockford College, Hamline University, Moorhead State University, and for 24 years at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, where she was Chair of the English Department from 1981 to 1991. At River Falls she was most proud of the interdisciplinary Arts and Ideas course she taught with John Buschen. She also worked to increase the diversity of course offerings by contributing to the development of new courses in areas such as African American Literature, Asian American Literature, Native American Literature, and Women’s Literature, and courses concerning issues and trends in American society. She was awarded the University’s first Excellence in Teaching Award in the Humanities. Holtan passed away in 1983. She is survived by half sister Kathleen Bond, half brother Patrick Bond, daughter Wendy Walker, sons David, Nils, Duncan, and Adam, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
She established the Margaret Odegard Scholarship Fund at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls when she retired. This fund awards an annual scholarship to a junior or senior majoring in English. Any memorials are requested to be donated to this fund.
