Marilyn Elaine Larson

Marilyn Larson of Montevideo died on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Copper Glen at the age of  93.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Bergen Lutheran Church with Rev. Mort Meyenburg officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  The service will be livestreamed on the Bergen Facebook page.

Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024 from 5 to 7pm at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo with a prayer service at 6:30PM.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Marilyn-Child of God.  As Marilyn was dying, she requested we only put these words in her obituary, that is how she wanted to be remembered.

Marilyn Elaine Boraas was born on March 1, 1931 to Mentor and Lillian Boraas on the family farm near Dawson, MN.  She was baptized at Lac qui Parle Lutheran Church following her birth.  Marilyn started country school and at the time only spoke Norwegian.  She continued at the country school through the eighth grade, then moved to Madison High School and graduated in 1949.  She attended St. Olaf College for one year before moving back to the Montevideo area and began working at Northern States.

She met Gilmore through her sister Lois, and they were married on December 27, 1953, and so recently they were able to celebrate 70 years of marriage.  We were thankful they were able to reach such a milestone and could celebrate together in their own home last December.  Gilmore and Marilyn settled on the family farm near Clarkfield, and she became a very active farm wife and loved to be outside helping Gilmore, tending to her flowers, gardening and of course bringing lunches to Gilmore in the field.  Marilyn loved to be active outside of the home as well and she belonged to many different groups, including, Christian Women’s Club, Homemakers, Sewing Club, Book Club, bowling and golfing.  She loved everything that she participated in.

Children did not come to them immediately, so they decided to become foster parents and in 1957 they were able to have 3 siblings placed with them:   Rosie, Albert and Jane Kruckman, whom they loved dearly.  These children meant so much to them and they wanted to adopt them, unfortunately, they were not able to do that.  They lived with them for 12 months, but the loving relationship continued throughout their lives.

Through Lutheran Social Service Gilmore and Marilyn were able to adopt Tim in 1959 followed by Tammy in 1961.  They may have been thrilled with being able to have two children to raise and love, but God had other plans and they were able to have two children born to them: Judy in 1962 and Kathy in 1963.

After the children graduated, Marilyn began working at Thompson Drug in Montevideo followed by her dream job-head cook of the Clarkfield school.  She always said that she was the happiest when she was cooking for other people and that allowed her to do that for many children and adults every day.  Feeding people to her was a way to show love and she did that so well.  She found time to volunteer after her work was done at the school and she spent many years at Luther Haven helping the residents, becoming a helper to them for numerous reasons and was able to be part of the team that set and styled the women’s hair.  Marilyn was still not done helping people, so in her 70's she trained as a hospice worker, and she was able to be present with many people as they faced death.  She loved to read scripture and pray with people, and just be there to listen and comfort them.

Marilyn was an extremely active member of Bergen Lutheran Church and loved her Bergen Family.  She and Gilmore were Luther League advisors, she taught Sunday school, and was involved in the choir/cantatas, WELCA, quilting, Bible studies and anything else that was going on at Bergen, she wanted to be a part of.  She had her Bible study group at her house as recent as February.

Her family was very special to her.  When her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would visit, she would give them undivided attention, wanting to know everything they were doing, she was a wonderful listener and wasn’t afraid to offer her advice, without being judgmental.  Of course, a meal was also involved.  The grandchildren would often say that even the milk and toast tasted better at Grandmas.  She put extra love into all that she did, including her cooking, which apparently made it all taste better.

Some accomplishments for Marilyn include:
* First woman elected to the Clarkfield School board, in 1977
*Hitting a hole in one at age 75 at the Montevideo Golf Course
*Learning how to text and take pictures on her phone in her 80's
*Teaching a Bible School lesson at Bergen at age 86
*Visited the Holy Land with her niece Susan and sister-in-law Linda, in her 80's

Marilyn’s faith was her highest priority and she lived by her faith and showed her love for Jesus in everything she did.  Her relationship with Him was the most important one in her life.  She was so kind, humble and giving of her time and talents throughout her life.  Her day would always start early with prayer, study and devotions, and she continued to do that until a few days before her death.  We were told by her bible study members that she was the one with all the answers; she was the Rock of the bible study. 

Marilyn is survived by her husband of 70 years, Gilmore; son, Tim (Jody) Larson; daughters: Judy (Karl) Bergeland, Kathy (Steve) Koetter; foster daughter, Jane Flinn; siblings: Jim Borass, Bonnie (Jerry) Anderson, Maisy Thompson; grandchildren: Jesse Larson Justin Larson, Jared Larson, Michael Winters, Corey Winters, Matthew Winters, Gretchen Bergeland, Rachel Bergeland, Maggie Bergeland, Ingrid Bergeland, Lexi DuFrane, Zack DuFrane; step-grandchildren: Jeremy Olson, Joey Olson, Zachary Olson; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and 16 nieces and nephews.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents: Mentor and Lillian Boraas; daughter, Tammy; granddaughter, Elizabeth; sister, Lois bother, Leslie; foster daughter, Rosie Haase and foster son, Albert Kruckman.

Blessed be her memory