Willmar – Marjorie Green, 95, formerly of Thief River Falls, died peacefully on Monday, October 16, 2023, at Copperleaf Serenity Suites in Willmar, where she had resided for the past twelve years.
Marjorie Faye Blevens was born February 15, 1928 in Washington, Indiana. She was the daughter of Jesse David and Onie Belle (Fielder) Blevens. She grew up in southern Indiana, in a loving family that was grounded in the Methodist Church. She lost her mother when she was a young teen. She graduated in 1946 from Washington High School, Washington, Indiana. She went on to attend Indiana State University in Bloomington, where she graduated valedictorian with a degree in Special Education in 1950.
She accepted her first teaching job in International Falls, where she met the love of her life, Orin J. Green. They were united in marriage on December 21, 1951. They spent the first two years of their marriage separated, 1952–1954, while Orin served in the U.S. Army, eighteen months of that time in Korea.
Orin and Marjorie moved to Thief River Falls in 1954, where they established the Green Funeral Home with Orin’s father, Olger. Upon Orin’s retirement in 1991, they began extensive international travel.
Marjorie was a life-long learner and lover of the arts. Together, Orin and Margorie would attend concerts, plays, tour museums, and visit historical venues and parks. They loved to go cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, they walked several miles every day, and enjoyed spending time at the pool. The most important thing to them was to raise their family in a loving, Christian home, modeling stewardship, generosity, faithfulness, service, and a personal faith.
Marjorie volunteered and sang for almost her entire adulthood with the Thief River Falls United Methodist Church, taught Arts Adventure at Challenger Elementary School, served with Christian Women’s Club, and was a supporter of the arts in the TRF area.
Marjorie is survived by son, Carter (Beth) Green of Stony Point, NY; and daughter, Sarah (Terry) Lockwood of Spicer; three grandchildren, Neil (Angela Krantz) Lockwood of Cambridge, Elicia Borowick of Wyoming, MN, and Makayla Shepard (Eric Madsen) of St. Paul; seven great-grandchildren, Lilly, Mavric, Emma, Caleb, Joshua, Brody, and Junior. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Janet Grider, Carole Regin, Rebecca (John) Baldwin, Diane Sandahl, Neal (Lana) Sandahl, Steve (Cynthia) Sandahl, Jerry (Shawn) Sandahl, and Nancy (Guy) Finstrom.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Orin; parents, Jesse and Onie Blevens; siblings, Howard Blevins, Helen Summers, Marvin Blevens, and three sisters who died as infants, Anna Lorene, Evelyn Geneva, and Elinor Geneva Blevens; daughter, Lori Green; and grandson, Nick Lockwood.
Visitation will be from 3–5 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Thief River Falls on Friday, November 10, 2023. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the United Methodist Church, Thief River Falls, with Reverend Rory Swenson officiating.
Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery. Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home of Montevideo and Johnson Funeral Home of Thief River Falls are making arrangements.
The family would be honored by memorials given in Marjorie’s name to a hospice, education foundation, or church of your choice. They are grateful for all of the condolences and memories that have been shared.
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