In January of 1968, Marlene and John welcomed their daughter, Sandra Susan. Marlene had prayed to be a mother, and did a wonderful job of it. She spent 12 years traveling the 16 miles between the ranch and Custer, making sure Sandra got to and from school every day, as well as taking in every basketball game, band concert, and 4-H meeting. Then there were trips to Bozeman for the college days, and later to Butte and Great Falls, as Sandra moved around with her job. In 1999, Sandra was transferred back to Butte, and Marlene and John decided to retire off the ranch and move into her house in Great Falls.
Marlene loved Great Falls, and chose to stay there after John's passing in 2001. She spent hours going to the farmers' market, community concerts, and the symphony with her friend, Helen Marie Shortridge. She cherished getting together with Thelma Seyfert and Agnes Weinzetl, going out for lunch and then spending the afternoon playing cards. Her neighbors, Caroline Street Houtz and Jack Fisher, spent hours in conversation with her in the yard, where she planted her beloved tulips and set out flowers in pots.
In 2009, Marlene decided she was ready to move to Butte, to be closer to Sandra and her husband, Eric. Her move to a lovely single-floor condo allowed her to remain independent in her own home until the day before her passing, which was very important to her. She enjoyed reading, catching up on old TV shows, and visiting Sandra's house to spoil the cats after the last of her many extremely well-loved pets was gone.
In addition to her parents and husband, Marlene was preceded by an infant brother, Merle Eugene, and sisters Beverly Yvonne Lennick and Carole Deanna Yurian; brothers-in-law Roy (Jane) Anderson and Eugene Anderson; sisters-in-law Dorothy (James) Ickes and Margaret (George 'Bill') Ickes; her cousin Joseph Ruff, who was also married to John's sister; and special cousin James Ruff.
Marlene is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Anderson and William 'Eric' David; brother-in-law Floyd (Janice) Lennick; nieces Twila Sunden, Yvonne (Jerry) Bradbury, and Shawna Marsh (Frank Ullman); nephew Farron (Kathy) Lennick, and their families. She is also survived by sister-in-law Lillian Ruff; and nieces and nephews: Colleen (Robert) Huff, Jeanne (Randy) Nafts, Kathryn (John) Driscoll, Lynn (Doug) Toomey, Charlotte (Roger) Fettig, Alice Willey, Gary (Della) Ruff, Leslie Ruff, Yvonne (Steven) Herbst, and Scott (Annett) Ruff, and their families; and James' wife Eleanor Ruff. She also enjoyed special relationships with great-niece Bobbie (Huff) Skaggs, her 'other daughter' Connie (Ruff) Kanta, and son-in-law Eric's daughter Julie David.
Cremation has taken place, and in accordance with Marlene's wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either of these, which were near and dear to her: Special K Ranch, PO Box 479, Columbus, MT 59019 or online at specialkranch.org; or 4 Paws Rescue, PO Box 13, Cardwell, MT 59721 or online at 4pawsrescuemt.org.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with cremation. Please visit www.buttefuneralhome.com to share memories of Marlene or offer condolences.
In January of 1968, Marlene and John welcomed their daughter, Sandra Susan. Marlene had prayed to be a mother, and did a wonderful job of it. She spent 12 years traveling the 16 miles between the ranch and Custer, making sure Sandra got to and from school every day, as well as taking in every basketball game, band concert, and 4-H meeting. Then there were trips to Bozeman for the college days, and later to Butte and Great Falls, as Sandra moved around with her job. In 1999, Sandra was transferred back to Butte, and Marlene and John decided to retire off the ranch and move into her house in Great Falls.
Marlene loved Great Falls, and chose to stay there after John's passing in 2001. She spent hours going to the farmers' market, community concerts, and the symphony with her friend, Helen Marie Shortridge. She cherished getting together with Thelma Seyfert and Agnes Weinzetl, going out for lunch and then spending the afternoon playing cards. Her neighbors, Caroline Street Houtz and Jack Fisher, spent hours in conversation with her in the yard, where she planted her beloved tulips and set out flowers in pots.
In 2009, Marlene decided she was ready to move to Butte, to be closer to Sandra and her husband, Eric. Her move to a lovely single-floor condo allowed her to remain independent in her own home until the day before her passing, which was very important to her. She enjoyed reading, catching up on old TV shows, and visiting Sandra's house to spoil the cats after the last of her many extremely well-loved pets was gone.
In addition to her parents and husband, Marlene was preceded by an infant brother, Merle Eugene, and sisters Beverly Yvonne Lennick and Carole Deanna Yurian; brothers-in-law Roy (Jane) Anderson and Eugene Anderson; sisters-in-law Dorothy (James) Ickes and Margaret (George 'Bill') Ickes; her cousin Joseph Ruff, who was also married to John's sister; and special cousin James Ruff.
Marlene is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Anderson and William 'Eric' David; brother-in-law Floyd (Janice) Lennick; nieces Twila Sunden, Yvonne (Jerry) Bradbury, and Shawna Marsh (Frank Ullman); nephew Farron (Kathy) Lennick, and their families. She is also survived by sister-in-law Lillian Ruff; and nieces and nephews: Colleen (Robert) Huff, Jeanne (Randy) Nafts, Kathryn (John) Driscoll, Lynn (Doug) Toomey, Charlotte (Roger) Fettig, Alice Willey, Gary (Della) Ruff, Leslie Ruff, Yvonne (Steven) Herbst, and Scott (Annett) Ruff, and their families; and James' wife Eleanor Ruff. She also enjoyed special relationships with great-niece Bobbie (Huff) Skaggs, her 'other daughter' Connie (Ruff) Kanta, and son-in-law Eric's daughter Julie David.
Cremation has taken place, and in accordance with Marlene's wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either of these, which were near and dear to her: Special K Ranch, PO Box 479, Columbus, MT 59019 or online at specialkranch.org; or 4 Paws Rescue, PO Box 13, Cardwell, MT 59721 or online at 4pawsrescuemt.org.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with cremation. Please visit www.buttefuneralhome.com to share memories of Marlene or offer condolences.
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