Margaret Leighton

STRAFFORD - Margaret Justine (Riddervold) Leighton, 86, died Sept. 22, 2009, at Hyder Hospice House from complications of heart disease.The daughter of James Trygve Riddervold and Margaret Elizabeth Barringer Riddervold, she was born Oct. 28, 1922, in Oslo, Norway. Her Norwegian father and American mother brought her to the United States as an infant, living in Cambridge and Texas, before settling into her beloved hometown of Concord. There she attended elementary and high school, graduating from Concord High, class of 1941.Beginning in high school, Justine was an accomplished artist and was active in theater, both as an actor and set designer. In 1978, she was a founding director of the Lakeside Players in her hometown of Bow Lake, Strafford. Through more than 20 years of involvement with the Lakeside Players, she participated in countless plays and musical programs, serving in the roles of director, actor, stage manager and most notably, as a gifted set designer and art director.An accomplished pianist and choral director, she directed the Bow Lake Youth Choir for over 15 years and ran numerous community musical revues and church cantatas, spanning more than 30 years. She was active in the Bow Lake Baptist Church her entire adult life and directed and sang in the church choir. Music filled her home and her life and was her greatest joy.Justine was also involved in numerous other community activities over the years, including the Bow Lake Community Club, which named her its Citizen of the Year.A true "Renaissance Woman" with an unforgettable and indomitable spirit, Justine was also a talented poet. An accomplished cook and baker, she made and sold homemade breads for several years and was especially known for her Norwegian coffee bread braids. She also had a home business designing extraordinary pine cone wreaths, which sold locally and across the country.During World War II, Justine worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, Conn. After the war, she returned to New Hampshire as secretary to the Director of the N.H. Fish and Game Department. There she met her future husband, and on Oct. 1, 1949, she married Roger Stephen Leighton and moved to Strafford, where she had resided for the last 59 years. Justine passed away just days before celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary.She leaves her husband, Roger S. Leighton; her four children and their families, Roger Stephen Leighton Jr. of Bow Lake, Strafford; Margaret Elizabeth Leighton of Denver, Colo.; Martha Vernice Leighton of Bow Lake, Strafford; and Mary Abigail Aucella of Barrington. Justine was predeceased by her brother, James Trygve Riddervold, Jr.There will be no calling hours and burial at Center Strafford Cemetery will be private. A memorial service celebrating Justine's life will be held Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Bow Lake Baptist Church in Bow Lake Village.In lieu of flowers, please give to the charity of your choice or to the Bow Lake Baptist Church Music Fund, c/o BLBC, Province Road, Strafford, NH 03884.Arrangements are being handled by Edgerly Funeral Home of Rochester.Visit the online guest book at www.fosters.com/obits