Margaret "Margot" Rose Imdieke Cross

life story

Trailblazer

Huge loss for Stuart, Margot's family, friends, and the disability community.

Image description: Photo: Margot sitting in her wheelchair, barefoot, on the shore of Lake Lac La Croix, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. She has on a ball cap, is wearing a plaid shirt over a T-shirt, and jeans. She's holding a canoe paddle.

Image Description of banner photos: Margot's professional photograph, she's smiling. The background banner photo is of white roses with blue delphinium.

Access for All

Margot Imdieke Cross, age 68 of Minneapolis, passed away from complications of cancer. Her beloved husband, Stuart, was holding her hand on July 21, 2024.

Margot was born March 26, 1956, in West Union near Sauk Center, MN to Otto and Elizabeth (Williams) Imdieke. Margot was injured in a farm accident at age 1 and used a wheelchair from then on. She credits her brothers with making sure she grew up independent, doing things for herself – and thus became one of the best wheelchair wheelie poppers around! We suspect those wheelies led her to compete with the Courage Center’s first Woman’s Wheelchair Basketball Team.

Margot, as a result of her injury, got care in the Twin Cities, where she attended the UofM, and eventually settled. She became active in the disability rights movement, and soon was known throughout all of Minnesota as a profoundly effective access and disability rights champion, leading the Minnesota delegation on providing input to the Americans with Disabilities Act. She was a central figure in the implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If there is just one word that describes Margot’s monumental professional career, it’s ACCESS. Margot was the go-to access specialist for state agencies, cities, counties, architects, builders, and designers, providing technical advice for over 35 years. Margot’s professional accomplishments are far too many to mention, but to name a few - if you’ve parked in a disability parking spot, voted at an accessible poll, or if you have enjoyed access at a state park, government building, or a sports stadium in Minnesota, you can thank Margot. You can also thank Margot that your local first responders and emergency managers understand that your access needs and service animals are your rights during an emergency.

She delivered countless presentations on access, disability rights, disability awareness, disability etiquette, accessible voting, technical building code, and emergency preparedness and much more. Margot contributed to numerous legal reviews of proposed legislation, building codes, and administrative rulings. She testified at legislative hearings on access issues and the rights of people with disabilities. She was the access specialist for the Minnesota Council on Disability for 35 years. An influential leader at heart, she served on the board of directors for Wilderness Inquiry, Access Press, and Metropolitan Center for Independent Living. She was a Minneapolis Civil Rights Commissioner and was a member of the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities. Of her countless accolades, achievements, and awards, some most notable: She was present for the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed that historic legislation into law with the famous words, “Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down” – and she pursued those words of wisdom the rest of her life. Margot was the first ever recipient of the Access Press Charlie Smith Award in 2003 for her dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities. She also received the Courage Center’s Rose and Jay Phillips Award. Margot was credited with consulting on the most inclusive and accessible sports stadium in the United States, Target Field (at the time it was built). Her leadership on the Target Field project became a model of how to make stadiums accessible for all.

Margot was tough and tender, determined, influential, and successful and a loyal, generous, and wonderful friend. She was known to ‘throw kisses’ your way by saying “muah, muah” Her catch phrase, “you got it” became part of her personality. It was her way of saying, “you’re welcome” because folks were constantly thanking her - she turned her back on no one with an access issue. She loved to dance. She had a tastefully sarcastic sense of humor. She had integrity, was honest, authentic, humble, and kind. Tenacious and forthright, it was often said that Margot did not take no for an answer – especially when it came to doing what is right.

Margot married Stuart Cross in 1996 and they enjoyed a beautiful Minneapolis home together - with roses in the garden, delicious food in the kitchen, where friends and family were always welcome, and where kitties, Buddy and Sedona were loved and cared for.

Survivors are Stuart, her husband of 28 years, brothers and sisters, MaryKay Imdieke, St. Mary’s, Georgia; Tim Imdieke (Randi), Alexandria, MN; Dan (Cathy) Imdieke, Linton, ND; Dave Imdieke, Sauk Centre, MN; Donna (Gary Marthaler) Imdieke, West Union, MN; Hermie (Jane Zirbes) Imdieke, Sauk Centre, MN; and many nieces and nephews, and her attentive and helpful godson, Steven Runquist. Margot also leaves a legion of friends, colleagues, fellow advocates, and fighters. It’s fair to say the best way to honor Margot is to carry on the pursuit of access, inclusion, justice and equity for all, most importantly for people with disabilities.

Margot was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Charles, “Chuck”.

Stuart and Margot’s family invite you to, as Stuart puts it, “a celebration of a lifetime” Let’s gather to celebrate Margot, tell some stories and commit as a community to carry out her legacy by remaining vigilant to the cause of access and disability rights.

A Celebration of Life service will be officiated by Marilaurice Hemlock, at 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, Lunch will be served after the service, and story and fellowship time will go until 3:00 p.m.

The service will be held at Banquets of MN, 6310 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley MN. ASL and CART will be provided for the service, lunch, and story time.

To receive a Zoom link for the service, 10:00 am to approximately 11:30, please email Margotssservice.aug7@gmail.com

The zoom link will not be available during meal and story time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family preferred.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

August 7, 2024

ASL and CART provided. Service starts at 10:00 am and goes to approximately 11:30, lunch and story time to follow. If you would like a Zoom link, please email Margotsservice.aug7@gmail.com NO LATER THAN 5PM ON TUESDAY AUGUST 6. THANKS!

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services