The funeral service to celebrate Marlene’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020 at Abundant Life Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, with Rev. LeRoy Flickinger officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at Abundant Life Lutheran Church. CDC guidelines with masks and social distancing will be followed.
Marlene Joyce Lappegaard was born October 15, 1934 in Thief River Falls, the daughter of Henry and Inga (Lokken) Lappegaard. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. Marlene attended school in Thief River Falls, graduating with the class of 1952. During high school, Marlene was the typist for the school newspaper and also enjoyed playing volleyball and softball. After graduation, Marlene worked as a bookkeeper for Anderson Oil.
On December 11, 1953, Marlene was united in marriage to Leonard Olson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. They made their home in Thief River Falls and to this union five children were born, Hollie, Lorrie, Randy, Darcy and Jeanine. On Halloween in 1965 the family made their home out in the country on a farm in North Township, just west of Thief River Falls. Their first winter they had to deal with the memorable Blizzard of 1966.
Marlene loved being home with her children while they were young. From 1967 until 1982, Marlene worked at Arctic Cat in Preassembly. She then went to work in Housekeeping at Oakland Park Nursing Home until her retirement in the late 1990s.
Marlene enjoyed working her vegetable garden, old time music and dancing, listening to Leonard playing his fiddle, and especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marlene loved photography and even won Grand Champion at the Pennington County Fair for one of her photos.
Marlene was a charter member of Abundant Life Lutheran Church and was very active in the life of the church. She was also active in 4-H, PTA, Sons of Norway, American Legion Auxiliary and Christian Women.
Marlene was a very giving, grateful, appreciative, loving woman who lived life as an example for her family. She had a strong faith, she lived her faith and read her Bible faithfully. She enjoyed giving family and friends a ride to church or any other place where they needed to go.
Survivors include Marlene’s loving children: Hollie (Brad) Stewart of Erskine, Lorrie (Randy) Nelson of Newfolden, Randy (Sue Charles) Olson of Goodridge and Darcy (Jerald) Larson of Waverly; 15 grandchildren: Jamie (Colton) Determan, Lisa (Samuel) Lalone, Chadrik (Chas) Swanson, Nicholas Swanson, Carissa (Kelly Bates) McDougall, Jonette (Andy) Ryan, Destiny Olson, Caleb Olson, Ashton (Kristjan Martin) Olson, Jennifer (Mark) Anderson, Scott Larson, Jessica (Rick) Boutain, Kyle Molstad, Derek Molstad and Daniel Molstad; great grandchildren: Kaydence, Camden, Griffin, Elgin, Larkin, Alexia, Ian, Ryan, Rosie, Jesse, Bethany, Kaitlyn, Aubrey, Mikayla, Bonnie, Harold, Inga, Adalyn, Jasmine, Dominic and Kira; step grandchildren: Kassie (Craig) Redford, Brandon (Ashley) Nelson, Kristina, Kristin and Bryant (Pascale) Nelson; step great-grandchildren: Justin, Felicity, Austin, Alena, Braxton, Emily, Avery, Brayden, Sterling, Mercedes, Beau and Charley; son-in-law, Clayton Molstad; sisters-in-law, Elody Olson and Deloris Hoglo; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
Marlene is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard in 2006; daughter, Jeanine Molstad; step-great-granddaughter, Heidi; parents; brother, Vernon Lappegaard; and brothers-in-law, Robert Hoglo, Amorin, Herbert, Orvis, Erwin “Swede” (Corene) and infant, Morris Olson.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
