MARIE MARDEN obituary

Marie Marden, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes.

A rosary service will be held at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church, with

the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. A committal service will follow the funeral Mass at the Calvary Cemetery in Havre. A fellowship reception will be at the St. Jude Parish Center following the committal service.

Marie was born Feb. 5, 1929, to Neckolae and Anna (Amundsen) Leom in Bonetraill, N.D., the second of seven children. She attended schools in Bonetraill and Williston, N.D., and graduated from Williston High School in 1946. After graduation she worked as a proofreader for the Williston Daily Herald until her marriage to Darel Marden, June 28, 1947. The family moved to Havre in 1961 when the Great Northern Railroad transferred Darel.

In addition to raising six children, Marie was part owner and active in the everyday operation of Marden's Trailer Sales, a recreational vehicle business currently owned by her sons Roger, Steve and Douglas, for more than 30 years prior to retirement.

When her husband passed away in 1980, she worked tirelessly to establish the Darel Marden Memorial Campground in Beaver Creek Park. She was instrumental in planning, funding and developing the camping area.

Marie enjoyed camping, playing cards, bowling, visiting friends and family, and watching sports on television. During her lifetime she was a member of several clubs and organizations. She was a charter member in The Happy Hi-liners Camping Club. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Havre Eagles Club, St. Jude Catholic Church, the Wisconsin Genealogical Society, and was an officer in the Fort Assinniboine Genealogical Society. In her later years, she enjoyed researching the family tree on both sides. Even finding the occasional skeleton in the closet was enjoyable.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Neckolae and Anna (Amundsen) Leom, and husband, Darel Marden in 1980.

Survivors include her sons, Roger Marden of Havre, Allan (Debbie) Marden of Bismarck, N.D., Douglas Marden and Steven (Ginny) Marden of Havre; daughters, Kris (Alan) Moe of Florence, Karla (Duane) Baney of Stevensville; and 13 grandchildren Tracie Parrott of Tucson, Ariz., Kevin Marden of Greely, Colo., Dawn Marden of Fort Collins, Colo., Brandy and Corrie Marden of Bismarck, N.D., Taylor and Jade Marden of Havre, Ryan, Justin and Damon Moe of Florence, and Kyle, Brandon and Noah Baney of Stevensville; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Fort Assinniboine Genealogical Society, c/o Havre-Hill County Library, 402 Third St., Havre, MT 59501 or to a person's choice.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.