Marilyn Colleen Marquardt, age 86 and a resident of Prior Lake, MN, passed away peacefully, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, on Saturday morning, June 16, 2018.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, June 22, at 11 am, with a gathering of family and friends beginning at 9 am, at McKenna Crossing 13810 Shepherd’s Path NW, Prior Lake, MN. Pastor Diana Hunstad will preside, and her grandson and great-grandchildren will act as urn bearers. Marilyn will be laid to rest at a private family burial at Evergreen Cemetery, in Brainerd, MN. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in her memory by the family.

On the family farm in Laurel, Iowa Marilyn was born to parents, Earl and Evelyn (Spence) West, on August 25, 1931. She later became a big sister to Sharon. As a young girl, Marilyn raised a baby beef (Costello) to show at the fair. As it turned out, the Maid Rite restaurant bought her baby beef and it took a long time before she could eat at that restaurant again. At 14 years old, her family moved to Brainerd, MN. A town they had vacationed at in prior years. From the sale of her baby beef, Costello, Marilyn bought a saxophone and excelled in band. She became 1st chair sax in the Washington High School Band, where she later graduated.

While in high school, her good friend Doris introduced Marilyn to Bryant Warren Marquardt. It was instant love!! On November 6, 1949 in Staples, MN they declared their love to each other. In the coming years, Marilyn & Bryant welcomed two precious girls, Terry & Jo. The family settled in Prior Lake in the early 1960’s. As a couple, they loved big band music and dancing. Marilyn & Bryant enjoyed Friday nights socializing with friends, especially at the Prior Lake VFW. Sunday afternoons often meant family time to enjoy homemade pizza, banana chocolate malts and watching the Ed Sullivan Show.

As Terry and Jo grew up, Marilyn was a stay-at-home Mom. She later took a waitressing job at the ElDorado Cafe in Burnsville for over a decade. In 1977, Marilyn and Bryant bought a floral store they named after their girls, Teri-Jo’s Floral. Marilyn operated the business in Prior Lake until selling it in 1989. Retirement was not a word Marilyn knew. For almost the next 3 decades, she assisted her daughter Terry in her appraisal business.

In 1991, Marilyn lost the love of her life, Bryant. This was a huge adjustment for her, but it made Marilyn strong. She became very independent, strong willed and determined to continue living life to the fullest. She purchased a town home and renovated it. Over the last several years, Marilyn moved to McKenna Crossing. Here, she loved to play WII bowling and getting together with her friends and neighbors at happy hour! When time allowed, Marilyn loved to play cards, entertain and cook. She was an amazing chef and always on the hunt for a new recipe. Marilyn loved decorating and cooking for Christmas. A love for the game of basketball, she relished cheering on the Minnesota Lynx’s. But it was her girls, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that brought her the most joy in life!

The Marquardt family personally thanks the Courage Kenny and Abbott NW Hospital for their care and compassion during Marilyn’s illness.

Forever loved and missed by daughters, Terry Hack, Jo (Sue Collin) Marquardt; grandson, Tom (Leah) Hack; granddaughter-in-law, Linda Hack; great-grandchildren, Jonathan Hack, Will Hack, Lauren Hack, Charlie Hack; sister, Sharon (Clarence Taatjes) Fjelstad; many beloved nieces and nephews; other relatives and special friends.

Marilyn was welcomed home by her husband, Bryant; grandson, Brett Hack; parents Earl and Evelyn and brother-in-law, Chuck Fjelstad.

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