Marge Vattendahl was a sorority girl at Superior (Wis.) State Teachers College in November 1943 when she met Richard Bong, the World War II flying ace who was "an adopted son of Superior, an idol of many," she wrote in 1946. They were married in February 1945, with newsreel cameras grinding, 1,200 guests and a wedding cake 7 feet long.

In August 1945 she became a famous widow when Bong died while test-flying the first Lockheed jet fighter plane.

Setting aside the pain of that part of her life, she established a California career in magazine publishing, married and raised two daughters.

Services were held this week in Poplar, Wis., for Marge BongDrucker, who helped to establish the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center in Superior. She died of cancer Saturday in Superior. She was 79.

About eight months after Richard Bong died, his young widow wrote a 12-part series about their romance for the Minneapolis Tribune. The descriptions of an idyllic courtship and marriage ended with the last headline: "Orders from on high: Dick dies a hero; Marge carries on."

Bong Drucker moved to California and became a top model in Los Angeles, doing ads for Maybelline and Max Factor cosmetics. She was "totally glamorous" at 5 feet 9 and 120 pounds, said her daughter, Karen Drucker of the San Francisco area.

"Everything she did . . . was at this incredible high level."

She met Murray Drucker when he was looking for someone to write a column for his magazine, California Girl. She married him and became the magazine's fashion coordinator.

Murray Drucker, who died in 1991, also published a magazine called the Collie Review, for people who showed and bred collie dogs, Karen Drucker said. Her mother launched the Boxer Review, featuring the boxer dog breed

"Her typewriter was going before I was awake," her daughter said. The magazine won national awards as best single-breed publication, a Bong Center press release said.

In 1985, Bong Drucker was invited to the dedication of the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge. It connects Superior and Duluth.

She became active in the establishment of the Bong Heritage Center and frequently spoke on behalf of World War II veterans.

"For so many people, Marge was their celebrity, hero and a touchstone for what they had experienced during World War II," said Christabel Grant, executive director of the Bong Heritage Center, in a prepared statement.

In addition to her daughter Karen Drucker, survivors include another daughter, Kristina Drucker of the Los Angeles area, and a brother, William Vattendahl of Longville, Minn.

Trudi Hahn is at thahn@startribune.com.

Marjorie Drucker