Margaret Elstad Bale

Margaret E. BaleAugust 10, 1934 - June 23, 2025 Margaret Elstad Bale ("Meg"), a mother, social worker, and longtime advocate for adoption services, passed away peacefully in Lakeville, Minnesota on June 23, 2025 at the age of 90. Born on August 10, 1934 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Meg was adopted as a child along with her sister Elizabeth by Rudy and Elizabeth Elstad of Duluth, Minnesota. She grew up in Duluth, where she learned to love the outdoors, and later attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Meg married William "Bill" Bale, and together they raised three sons in Edina, Minnesota. After their divorce, Meg returned to work, earned a graduate degree in Social Work at Hamline University, and found her place in the field of adoption, proudly serving as a social worker at the Children's Home Society of Minnesota. She was committed to helping children and families navigate the adoption process and contributed to policy discussions at the state level. She was an avid spokesperson for adoption reform, appeared on local and national television and radio shows, and testified before the Minnesota legislature. In addition to her professional work, Meg had a lifelong interest in family history. She spent many years researching her ancestry, often traveling to libraries, courthouses, and cemeteries across the country to piece together family records. Later in life, she reconnected with her own birth siblings who had been placed with other families, an experience that held great personal significance for her. Her interest in the past extended beyond genealogy. After meeting the Dionne quintuplets as a young girl during their visit to Duluth, Meg became a longtime collector of Dionne quintuplets memorabilia. She eventually visited their childhood home and museum in North Bay, Ontario. Meg also enjoyed spending time at her cabin on Bay Lake, where she especially appreciated summer gatherings with family and friends and boat rides. During summertime, her cabin on Bay Lake was commonly filled with numerous families and the sounds of many children at play. She was deeply devoted to her grandchildren and took great pride in being a part of their lives. She is survived by her three sons: Richard (Lisa), Chuck (Krisi), and John (Renee); and her grandchildren: Sarah, Jack, Jason, and Ella. Her family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to everyone at The Fountains at Hosanna in Lakeville, Minnesota where Meg spent the final chapter of her life happy and engaged, surrounding by loving caregivers. A memorial gathering will be held at Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel, 5000 West 50th Street, Edina, from 12-2pm Monday July 21st. Donations may be made to the Children's Home Society of Minnesota or to organizations supporting adoption reform.

Tributes

Margaret Elstad Bale

August 10, 1934 - June 23, 2025

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203