Marjorie Manthe Gianotti

Marjorie Alice Manthe Gianotti (Margie) passed away peacefully on May 30, 2024 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. 

Margie was born to Wallace and Florence Johnston on October 5, 1933 in a cabin near St Xavier Montana on the Crow Indian Reservation, where her Father was an agent. She was the 4th of five children. When Margie was 20 months old, her mother died accidentally when their cabin caught fire and the children were put up for adoption.

Margie and her brother Martin were lovingly adopted by Genie and Leo Manthe. The family moved frequently, before eventually settling in Portland, OR. Margie attended 7th and 8th Grade at the Madeline School and then attended the Academy of the Holy Child for High School, where she enjoyed some of her happiest years - many friends, singing in choir, excelling in her studies. She entered the University of Portland and St Vincent Hospital School of Nursing, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree. 

She met Joe (Jay) Gianotti in the Catholic Young People’s group, and they were wed on November 12, 1955. They lived in east Portland initially, moved to Seattle in 1960, then relocated to Anchorage, Alaska in 1967, where they resided for 27 years before retiring in Vancouver, Washington in 1994. 

Margie was a homemaker and mother to 5 children, spread 23 years from oldest to youngest. She enjoyed camping, berry picking and outings to parks with her family. She fully supported her children in their studies, Scouting, music, athletics, religious education and other activities. Having her own talents, she expressed herself through gardening, sewing, quilting, crafts and baking. She delighted in making clothing and Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren, as well as decorating the house for each holiday and filling it with the aromas of candles and cookies. She made everyone who came to her home comfortable and relaxed. In her latter years, when sewing became impossible, she provided friends and family with lifetime supplies of crocheted potholders. She volunteered with many organizations, and enjoyed getting together with other women to play games, socialize and create items to donate to shelters. 

Margie was preceded in death by her husband Jay, her parents, Florence and Wallace, her adopted parents Leo and Genie, her brother Jack and sister Jessie, and sister-in-law Erna. She leaves behind her brother Martin and his wife Libby, her brother Blake, children Joe (Kathy), Chris (Joan), Dave (Tapaita), Jim (Abby), daughter Jenny (Tim) Strickland, 11 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 23 nieces and nephews and their families. 

A funeral mass will be held at 11 am on June 22 at the Madeline Catholic Church in Portland, followed by a reception and burial on Monday June 24.