Thief River Falls – Marlene Stroh, Thief River Falls, died peacefully at her residence on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014 at the age of 73.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, with Rev. Mark Helgeland and Rev. Ben Carlsen officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at Norman Lutheran Church Cemetery, Bear Park Township, Norman County.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Monday, December 29, 2014 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Tuesday.
Marlene Myrtle (Raaen) Stroh was born on July 5, 1941 in her family home, rural Gary, MN, the daughter of Arthur and Myrtle (Rice) Raaen. She grew up in the Norman Lutheran Church where she was baptized, attended Sunday school and confirmed her faith. Her early school days were spent at
the Giant Oak country school near her home. She finished her education at Gary High School, graduating in 1959.
Following high school Marlene moved to Minneapolis to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. While living there she met her future husband, David Stroh. The couple was united in marriage in Minneapolis on September 22, 1961. They made their home in Coon Rapids, MN, and started their family with the blessing of their children, Nathan and Stacy. In 1970 the family moved to Thief River Falls where they have since continued to make their home and welcome into their family a wonderful daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren, and their first great-grandchild, Stevie Beth.
Throughout the years Marlene made many friends working for the Consumers Co-op, Swenson Plumbing, the Hearing Center, and Digi-Key.
Marlene will be remembered for her love of music, quilt making, indoor gardening, family camping trips, and family. She had a wonderful personality and silly sense of humor – often playing pranks on her husband and grandchildren with a twinkle in her eye. For the past seven years Marlene enjoyed wintering in Arizona with Dave and spending time with new friends there.
Marlene’s church family was very important to her. As a young woman she was a Sunday school teacher. Later she was active in the Altar Guild and was always eager to help with various youth fundraising activities alongside her grandchildren.
Marlene is survived by her loving husband, David of Thief River Falls, MN; son, Nathan and his wife, Dianne along with their children, Bethany (Matt) Nordby,
Tiffany, and Anna all of Thief River Falls, MN; daughter, Stacy and her husband Jeffrey Davidson and their son, Chad (Mackenzie Kruta) all of Thief River Falls, MN; special great-granddaughter, Stevie Beth Nordby; brothers, Roger (Vanna), Merlin (LaVonne), and Leland (Linda) all of Fertile, MN; several nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Arthur and Myrtle; her brother, Donald, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arthur and Adeline Stroh.