Obituary for Marilyn Jo Kriese
Marilyn Kriese, age 88, of Watertown, SD passed away on Monday, September 14, 2020.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2020 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Iver Possehl officiating.
Visitation will be 4-6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 17th at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pallbearers will be Brad Lueders, Joey Kriese, Andy Bludorn, Austin Meyer, Nathan Kriese and Brandon Kriese.
Marilyn Jo Mitchell Kriese was born July 22, 1932 to Frank and Marie (Spencer) Mitchell at home near Crystal Springs Ranch by Gary, South Dakota. She attended rural country school and graduated as valedictorian in 1950 from Canby High School in Minnesota. After high school, Marilyn attended teachers’ training in Madison, Minnesota and then taught Country School #48 near Canby.
Marilyn married Loren Kriese on November 15, 1953 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marietta, Minnesota. The couple farmed near Marietta for several years before moving to Watertown, South Dakota in 1965 to raise their seven children. Marilyn was a dedicated volunteer and if you could think of something to volunteer for, Marilyn would. She taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, helped run school carnivals, was a PTA mom, a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader and prepared taxes for the elderly. She worked on the election board for 34 years and recruited and trained election board workers for the county.
Marilyn was very artistic and enjoyed sewing, knitting and painting t-shirts. She gave Charlie Brown “chalk talks” for several groups. If someone asked her “do you think you can…” she always came up with a plan to get it done. She loved to read and she could solve crossword puzzles in her head. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her family. Marilyn was a great listener and lovingly shared her wisdom and humor.
Marilyn was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church; her church family was very special to her. She was also a member of Republican Women serving as Secretary/Treasurer and Historian.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Loren, her children, Nancy (Rick) Thompson of Canton, Betty Sanders of Buda, TX, Kathy Bludorn and Barb Kriese of Watertown, Rick (Theresa) of Mitchell and Cliff (Anne) Kriese of Henry, 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marie Mitchell, her daughter, Bonnie (Kriese) Keszler, her brother, Frank Mitchell, her sisters, Jean Lueders, Alda Lueders, Mavis Oellien, Joyce Mitchell, sons-in-law, Brad Meyer, Bob Sanders and Bruce Bludorn, and her great grandson, Jace Zachary.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2020 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Iver Possehl officiating.
Visitation will be 4-6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 17th at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
Pallbearers will be Brad Lueders, Joey Kriese, Andy Bludorn, Austin Meyer, Nathan Kriese and Brandon Kriese.
Marilyn Jo Mitchell Kriese was born July 22, 1932 to Frank and Marie (Spencer) Mitchell at home near Crystal Springs Ranch by Gary, South Dakota. She attended rural country school and graduated as valedictorian in 1950 from Canby High School in Minnesota. After high school, Marilyn attended teachers’ training in Madison, Minnesota and then taught Country School #48 near Canby.
Marilyn married Loren Kriese on November 15, 1953 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marietta, Minnesota. The couple farmed near Marietta for several years before moving to Watertown, South Dakota in 1965 to raise their seven children. Marilyn was a dedicated volunteer and if you could think of something to volunteer for, Marilyn would. She taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, helped run school carnivals, was a PTA mom, a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader and prepared taxes for the elderly. She worked on the election board for 34 years and recruited and trained election board workers for the county.
Marilyn was very artistic and enjoyed sewing, knitting and painting t-shirts. She gave Charlie Brown “chalk talks” for several groups. If someone asked her “do you think you can…” she always came up with a plan to get it done. She loved to read and she could solve crossword puzzles in her head. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her family. Marilyn was a great listener and lovingly shared her wisdom and humor.
Marilyn was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church; her church family was very special to her. She was also a member of Republican Women serving as Secretary/Treasurer and Historian.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Loren, her children, Nancy (Rick) Thompson of Canton, Betty Sanders of Buda, TX, Kathy Bludorn and Barb Kriese of Watertown, Rick (Theresa) of Mitchell and Cliff (Anne) Kriese of Henry, 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Marie Mitchell, her daughter, Bonnie (Kriese) Keszler, her brother, Frank Mitchell, her sisters, Jean Lueders, Alda Lueders, Mavis Oellien, Joyce Mitchell, sons-in-law, Brad Meyer, Bob Sanders and Bruce Bludorn, and her great grandson, Jace Zachary.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.